The gemstone you select should be the color that appeals to you. If given the choice, most people's favorite gemstones have less to do with when they were born, and more to do with what colors they like and what looks best on them.

 

 

Month

Color

Modern Gemstones

 Suggested Alternate Gemstones

Jan

Dark Red

Garnet

 Rubellite

Feb

Purple

Amethyst

  

Mar

Pale Blue

Aquamarine

 Blue Topaz, Bloodstone, Blue Sapphire

Apr

White (Clear)

Diamond

White Sapphire, White Zircon, White Topaz

May

Bright Green

Emerald

 Green Tourmaline, Tsavorite, Jade

Jun

Cream Pearl

Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite

 Opal

Jul

Red

Ruby

 Rubellite, Red Spinel

Aug

Pale Green

Peridot

 Green Tourmaline, Emerald

Sep

Deep Blue

Sapphire

 Blue Spinel, Blue Tourmaline

Oct

Variegated

Opal or Pink Tourmaline

 Garnet, Sapphire

Nov

Yellow

Imperial Topaz or Citrine

 Beryl, Chrysoberyl

Dec

Sky Blue

Tanzanite, Turquoise Blue Zircon or Blue Topaz

 

In early times, gemstones were believed to possess magical properties. Some minerals were thought to contain a force or hold certain values and powers.

Tradition associates a gem with each sign of the zodiac based on a color system. Color was thought to unleash the power attributed to the stone. The Roman, Arabic, Jewish, Polish, Russian and Italian birthstone lists were all different.

In time, birthstones became associated with calendar months rather than the zodiac. And people began to select birthstones in colors other than the original.

 

Sign

Dates

Gemstone

Aquarius

 Jan. 21 - Feb.18

Garnet

Pisces

 Feb. 19 - Mar. 20

Amethyst

Aries

 Mar. 21 - Apr. 20

Bloodstone

Taurus

 Apr. 21 - May 21

Sapphire

Gemini

 May 22 - Jun. 21

Agate

Cancer

 Jun. 22 - Jul. 22

Emerald

Leo

 Jul. 23 - Aug. 23

Onyx

Virgo

 Aug. 24 - Sep.22

Carnelian

Libra

 Sep. 23 - Oct. 23

Peridot, Chrysolite

Scorpio

 Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Beryl, Aquamarine

Sagittarius

 Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Topaz

Capricorn

 Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Ruby