Birthstone Dictionary

January garnet to December turquoise: what each birthstone symbolizes, where its name comes from and how to care for it.

Every month has a birthstone: garnet for January, amethyst for February, aquamarine for March, diamond for April, emerald for May, pearl for June, ruby for July, peridot for August, sapphire for September, opal for October, topaz for November and turquoise for December. Where tradition offers a second stone, it's listed too — moonstone in June, tourmaline in October, citrine in November and tanzanite in December.

Each month's page shows the stone's color, the story behind its name, the legends and symbolism attached to it, and practical care tips — which gems fade in sunlight, which dislike ultrasonic cleaners, and how to store them. Light personality and love readings are included for fun, along with the zodiac signs that fall in that month and a link to the birth flower calendar.

The list follows the modern chart of the US jewelry trade, first set in 1912 and revised since. The UK and Japan use slightly different lists, so a stone you know may appear under another month elsewhere. Birthstone lore is tradition, not medicine: nothing here claims a healing or health effect.