Diamonds and pearls and sapphires, oh my! When it comes to birthstones, you’ve likely found yourself wondering what all the hype is about. As the name suggests, birthstones are gemstones that represent in which month a person was born. Different months have different stones, and yes, some have more than one! Each stone is supposed to hold a special meaning for people born in that month, and they’re typically given as a gift for special occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and religious milestones.
Intro to Birthstones
According to numerous articles, birthstones have been associated with folklore detailing their various symbolic powers and qualities, similar to zodiac signs. In some way, your birthstone is supposed to connect you with others – past and present – born in the same month and who likely share similar traits and qualities. But look, whether you buy into the symbolic meaning or not, birthstones can be a fantastic excuse to simply get your hands on some of the jewelry you’ve had your eye on!
What’s Your Birthstone?
Not sure which stone you should call your own? We’ve got you covered, courtesy of some information from The Pearl Source and Laguna Pearl.
January: Garnet
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), red garnets have a long history but come in many more colors than you probably are aware of, including greens, oranges, pinkish oranges, deeply saturated purplish reds, and even some blues. Different colors will set you back different amounts, with red being far more common than green, for example.
February: Amethyst
If you like to drink, this stone might be for you. In ancient Greece, it was believed to prevent intoxication—amethystos means “not drunk” in ancient Greek. Today it is the most valued quartz variety.
March: Aquamarine
As the name suggests – aqua and marina together translating to “sea water” – the stone looks like a beautiful light blue ocean.
April: Diamond
No explanation probably needed here. Who doesn’t love a diamond?!
May: Emerald
A beautiful green stone that’s been sought after for hundreds of years. Generally, the deeper green the stone, the more valuable it is.
June: Pearls, Alexandrite, and Moonstone
Pearls, the official June birthstone, are kind of having a moment right now. They scored in popularity over the last five years, and demand is causing prices to go up. Get your hands on some while you can if you were born in June.
July: Ruby
Think ruby, think red. This dazzling gemstone is sure to get the attention (and envy) of your peers.
August: Peridot and Spinel
Neither stone is particularly familiar to most people, but that doesn’t take away from their beauty. If you like green, Peridot offers some fantastic choices.
September: Sapphire
Princess Diana arguably helped put this stone on the map with her famous diamond, pearl, and sapphire choker, but did you know sapphires come in colors other than blue?
October: Opal
Most frequently found in Australia, opals come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. And, depending on the one you have your eye on, could set you back tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not to worry, though. There is plenty of more affordable opal if October is your birth month.
November: Citrine and Topaz
Citrine is quite rare and is known for its golden yellow color. Topaz, on the other hand, is most often purple, pink, blue, and red.
December: Zircon, Tanzanite, and Turquoise
All three of these gemstones come in different varieties of blue (a nod to the cold winter months, maybe?).
