Birthstones are not just about personal celebration—they’re a fascinating blend of color, symbolism, and culture. Each month is traditionally associated with one or more gemstones, and each gemstone comes in a specific range of hues that can drastically affect its appearance, meaning, and even value. Understanding the birthstone color chart can help you choose the perfect piece of jewelry, whether it’s a ring, pendant, or bracelet.

In this guide, we’ll break down every birthstone color, explain the science behind the shades, and provide practical shopping advice, linking to stores where you can find beautiful authentic birthstone jewelry.

Why Color Matters in Birthstones

Gemstone color is one of the most important factors in determining beauty and value. Here’s why:

1. Aesthetic Appeal
   • The right color can enhance skin tone, complement outfits, and reflect personal style.
2. Symbolic Meaning
   • Colors often carry metaphysical or emotional significance. For example, deep blue sapphires are linked to wisdom and calm, while fiery red rubies symbolize passion and energy.
3. Quality Indicator
   • In most gemstones, vivid, uniform colors without visible inclusions are considered higher quality.
4. Personal Expression
   • Some people prefer stones closer to their astrological or zodiac colors, adding personal resonance.

Birthstone Colors by Month

Below is a month-by-month guide to the official and alternate birthstones, their colors, and meanings.

January – Garnet

• Color Range: Deep red, green, orange, yellow, and even purple
• Most Common Color: Rich, dark red
• Symbolism: Protection, prosperity, and friendship
• Tips for Buyers:
  • Garnets are generally durable and budget-friendly, making them ideal for rings and everyday wear.
  • Look for stones with even color saturation.

Suggested Products:

• Garnet stud earrings
• Garnet solitaire rings
• Multi-gemstone stacking rings including garnet

February – Amethyst

• Color Range: Pale lavender to deep purple
• Symbolism: Calm, clarity, and spiritual growth
• Tips:
  • Darker purples with flashes of red are typically more valued.
  • Avoid stones that look cloudy or unevenly colored.

Recommended Jewelry:

• Amethyst birthstone pendants
• Amethyst rings with halo settings
• Raw amethyst crystal necklaces

March – Aquamarine

• Color Range: Pale blue, icy blue, and sometimes teal
• Symbolism: Serenity, courage, and clarity
• Tips:
  • Stones with clear, sky-blue color are highly prized.
  • Avoid stones with too much green or brown undertone.

Suggested Products:

• Aquamarine solitaire rings
• Aquamarine drop earrings
• Custom birthstone necklaces

April – Diamond

• Color Range: Clear/white, can have subtle tints of yellow, brown, or pink
• Symbolism: Purity, strength, and everlasting love
• Tips:
  • The GIA color grade affects the visual quality.
  • Lab-grown diamonds are a sustainable and ethical alternative.

Recommended Products:

• Diamond stud earrings
• Birthstone rings with diamond accents
• Lab-grown diamond pendants

May – Emerald

• Color Range: Deep green, bluish-green
• Symbolism: Rebirth, love, and prosperity
• Tips:
  • Look for vivid, saturated green stones with minimal inclusions.
  • Avoid stones that appear too dark or overly yellowish.

Suggested Products:

• Emerald solitaire rings
• Emerald pendants and necklaces
• Multi-stone stacking rings

June – Pearl or Alexandrite

• Pearl Colors: White, cream, black, pink, lavender
• Alexandrite Colors: Green in daylight, red-purple in incandescent light
• Symbolism: Purity (Pearl), balance (Alexandrite)
• Tips:
  • Pearls should have smooth surface and luster.
  • Alexandrite value depends on the strength of the color change.

Recommended Products:

• Freshwater pearl bracelets
• Alexandrite rings
• Pearl drop earrings

July – Ruby

• Color Range: Rich red, pinkish-red, or purplish-red
• Symbolism: Passion, protection, vitality
• Tips:
  • Vivid red stones (“pigeon blood”) are most valued.
  • Avoid stones that appear too dark or overly brown.

Suggested Products:

• Ruby solitaire rings
• Ruby stud earrings
• Birthstone pendants

August – Peridot

• Color Range: Light green, lime, olive
• Symbolism: Growth, prosperity, and healing
• Tips:
  • Bright, vivid lime green is ideal.
  • Olive tones are less desirable.

Recommended Products:

• Peridot rings
• Peridot stud earrings
• Birthstone charm bracelets

September – Sapphire

• Color Range: Deep blue, pink, yellow, and even green or white
• Symbolism: Wisdom, loyalty, and nobility
• Tips:
  • Deep, uniform blue is classic.
  • Lab-grown sapphires provide ethical options.

Recommended Products:

• Sapphire engagement rings
• Sapphire pendants
• Multi-stone sapphire necklaces

October – Opal or Tourmaline

• Opal Colors: Play-of-color in white, black, blue, red flashes
• Tourmaline Colors: Pink, green, blue, or bi-color
• Symbolism: Creativity (Opal), emotional balance (Tourmaline)
• Tips:
  • Opals are delicate; avoid high-impact settings.
  • Tourmaline stones should have even, vibrant colors.

Recommended Products:

• Opal pendants
• Tourmaline rings
• Multi-gemstone stacking rings

November – Topaz or Citrine

• Topaz Colors: Yellow, golden, blue, pink
• Citrine Colors: Warm yellow to golden-orange
• Symbolism: Joy, success, and abundance
• Tips:
  • For topaz, imperial shades are highly prized.
  • Citrine should be free of brownish tones.

Recommended Products:

• Topaz solitaire rings
• Citrine pendant necklaces
• Birthstone stud earrings

December – Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon

• Turquoise Colors: Blue, green-blue
• Tanzanite Colors: Deep blue to violet
• Zircon Colors: Blue, colorless, golden
• Symbolism: Protection (Turquoise), transformation (Tanzanite)
• Tips:
  • Avoid turquoise with heavy matrix if a clear look is desired.
  • Tanzanite’s value increases with intense violet-blue saturation.

Recommended Products:

• Turquoise bracelets and rings
• Tanzanite solitaire rings
• Zircon stud earrings

Understanding Hue, Tone, and Saturation

A birthstone’s appearance is influenced by three color factors:

1. Hue
   • The gemstone’s basic color (e.g., red, green, blue).
   • Some stones, like alexandrite, have a dual hue, which is highly valued.
2. Tone
   • Lightness or darkness of the color.
   • Example: A light blue aquamarine versus a deeper teal variant.
3. Saturation
   • Intensity or vividness of the color.
   • Highly saturated stones are more vibrant and often more expensive.

When shopping online, look for high-resolution images to assess these aspects, and if possible, request videos or 360° views.

Birthstone Color Charts: Visual Tools

Many jewelers and educational sites provide color charts that show:

• Gemstone color ranges by month
• Light vs dark examples
• Vivid vs muted saturation

These charts help buyers understand what to expect and choose stones that match personal taste and style.

Tip: Charts often highlight ideal hues, which can guide you toward premium quality stones.

Buying Tips for Online Birthstone Jewelry

1. Check Certification
   • Natural gemstones should come with GIA or AGS certification where applicable.
   • Lab-grown stones should be labeled clearly.
2. Compare Colors Across Stores
   • The same stone may appear different due to photography.
   • Compare multiple listings and request realistic images or videos.
3. Understand Return Policies
   • Make sure the store allows returns or exchanges if the color isn’t as expected.
4. Match Your Skin Tone
   • Certain hues flatter different skin tones:
     • Cool skin: Sapphire, amethyst, aquamarine
     • Warm skin: Garnet, peridot, citrine
5. Consider Lighting
   • Gemstones may look different under daylight, incandescent, or LED lighting.
   • Alexandrite and tanzanite are especially affected.

Some places you can buy your birthstones

Here are some birthstone jewelry options that align with the color chart:

• Blue Nile Birthstone Rings – Every month’s stones, classic designs
• Brilliant Earth Ethical Gemstones – Lab-grown and certified natural options
• Angara Customizable Birthstone Jewelry – Rings, pendants, stacking sets
• James Allen High-Resolution Gemstones – 360° video to check color and clarity
• Etsy Artisan Birthstone Jewelry – Unique handcrafted pieces

These stores cover all budgets, preferences, and styles, making it easy to match color, cut, and setting to your needs.