Birthstones — The Complete Guide
Birthstones — The Complete Guide
Birthstones are gemstones traditionally associated with each month of the year — a custom that traces its origins to the breastplate of Aaron in the Book of Exodus, was formalised in modern form by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912, and has been updated over the past century to reflect changing tastes and the discovery of new gems.
This guide covers all twelve months, including the modern birthstone (the most popular contemporary choice), the traditional birthstone (the older European convention), and notable alternative birthstones where they exist. At Diamond Imports, Daniel personally sources birthstones across every month — from sapphire and ruby through to peridot, citrine, and the rarer alexandrites and spinels.
Birthstone Jewellery — Hand Selected
Every month, every birthstone. Bespoke rings, pendants, and earrings crafted in Sydney. Daniel will source the right stone for your design and budget.
Birthstones at a Glance
January Birthstone — Garnet
Modern & Traditional: Garnet
Garnet is one of the oldest known gemstones, with use in jewellery dating back over 5,000 years. While most people picture garnet as a deep red stone, the garnet family actually contains a wide range of colours including the vivid green of tsavorite garnet, the orange of spessartite, the rich red of rhodolite, and the extraordinary colour-change of rare demantoid garnets. Garnet ranks 6.5–7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it durable enough for everyday wear, and it has long been associated with friendship, loyalty, and protection during travel.
February Birthstone — Amethyst
Modern & Traditional: Amethyst
Amethyst is the regal purple variety of quartz, ranging from pale lilac through to the rich, velvety "Siberian" purple that commands the highest premiums. Until large deposits were discovered in Brazil in the 19th century, amethyst was considered as valuable as ruby and emerald — and it was a favourite gemstone of European royalty. Amethyst ranks 7 on the Mohs scale and is associated with clarity of mind, sobriety, and spiritual wisdom. The finest amethysts come from Zambia, Brazil, and Uruguay.
March Birthstone — Aquamarine & Bloodstone
Modern: Aquamarine · Traditional: Bloodstone
Aquamarine — its name from the Latin aqua marina, meaning "water of the sea" — is the soft blue to blue-green variety of beryl (the same mineral family as emerald and morganite). The most prized aquamarines display a pure, vivid medium-blue colour often referred to as "Santa Maria" after the famous Brazilian source. Aquamarine ranks 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale and is one of the most wearable coloured gemstones — beautiful in engagement rings, dress rings, and earrings. The traditional birthstone, bloodstone, is a dark green chalcedony with red iron oxide inclusions, prized historically as a protective stone.
April Birthstone — Diamond
Modern & Traditional: Diamond
April is the most fortunate of the birthstone months — diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth, the most brilliant of all gemstones, and the universal symbol of love and commitment. Beyond classic colourless diamond, April birthdays can also celebrate with fancy coloured diamonds — pink, yellow, blue, green, champagne, and black diamonds, including the rare Argyle pink diamonds historically mined in Western Australia. Diamond is the gemstone of the 60th wedding anniversary and remains the world's most enduring choice for engagement rings.
Diamond Education → Fancy Coloured Diamonds →
May Birthstone — Emerald
Modern & Traditional: Emerald
Emerald is the vivid green variety of beryl and one of the four classic "precious gemstones" alongside diamond, ruby, and sapphire. Top emeralds — particularly those from Colombia's legendary Muzo and Chivor mines — display a pure, glowing green that no other gemstone can match. Fine African emeralds from Zambia and Ethiopia also produce outstanding stones, often with superior clarity. Emerald ranks 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale and has been associated with rebirth, fertility, and eternal youth for over four millennia.
June Birthstone — Pearl, Alexandrite & Moonstone
Modern: Pearl, Alexandrite, Moonstone · Traditional: Pearl
June is the month with the richest selection of birthstones. Pearl — the only gemstone created by a living organism — is the classic choice, with Australian South Sea pearls considered among the finest in the world. Alexandrite is one of the rarest gemstones on earth: a chrysoberyl that famously changes colour from green in daylight to red under incandescent light, sometimes called "emerald by day, ruby by night." Moonstone is a feldspar known for its ethereal blue or rainbow "adularescence" — a soft floating glow across the stone's surface.
Read the Pearl Guide → Enquire about Alexandrite or Moonstone →
July Birthstone — Ruby
Modern & Traditional: Ruby
Ruby — the king of coloured gemstones and the red variety of corundum — is one of the most valuable gemstones in the world. The finest "pigeon's blood" rubies from Burma (Myanmar) and Mozambique can rival or exceed equivalent diamonds in price per carat. Ruby ranks 9 on the Mohs scale, making it exceptionally durable, and has been a symbol of passion, power, and protection for millennia. A spectacular and meaningful choice for July-born loved ones.
August Birthstone — Peridot, Spinel & Sardonyx
Modern: Peridot, Spinel · Traditional: Sardonyx
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occurs in only one colour — a fresh, lime-green to olive-green that ranges from bright and zesty to deep and rich. Peridot has been mined for over 3,500 years, and some peridots even have an extraterrestrial origin (found in pallasite meteorites). Spinel was added as a modern birthstone in 2016, recognising one of the most underrated gemstones in the trade — spinel comes in vivid reds (long mistaken for ruby in royal jewellery), cobalt blues, pinks, lavenders, and grey, with exceptional brilliance and durability.
Enquire about Peridot or Spinel →
September Birthstone — Sapphire
Modern & Traditional: Sapphire
Sapphire — the gem variety of corundum in every colour except red — is the second hardest natural gemstone after diamond and one of the most celebrated stones in fine jewellery. The classic deep blue Ceylon, Kashmir, or Burmese sapphire is most associated with September birthdays, but fancy sapphires (pink, yellow, padparadscha, parti, white) and Australian parti sapphires offer remarkable colour variety. The most famous engagement ring of the modern era — Princess Diana's, now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales — is a sapphire.
October Birthstone — Opal & Tourmaline
Modern: Opal, Tourmaline · Traditional: Opal
October is blessed with two of the most expressive gemstones in existence. Opal is Australia's national gemstone, with Australia producing approximately 95% of the world's supply of fine precious opal — from Lightning Ridge black opal to Coober Pedy crystal opal and Queensland boulder opal. Tourmaline comes in more colours than any other gemstone — from the vivid neon "Paraíba" blues to bi-coloured "watermelon" tourmaline, vivid green "chrome" tourmaline, and every shade between. A wonderfully creative pairing for October-born loved ones.
November Birthstone — Topaz & Citrine
Modern: Topaz, Citrine · Traditional: Topaz
Topaz comes in a broad spectrum of colours, with the warm orange-pink imperial topaz from Brazil's Ouro Preto region being the most prized variety. Blue topaz — often produced by treating colourless topaz — is the most familiar form today, ranging from pale "sky blue" to vivid "London blue." Citrine is the yellow to golden-orange variety of quartz, named from the French citron for its lemon colour. Affordable, durable (Mohs 7), and beautiful in larger sizes, citrine has long been associated with warmth, energy, and prosperity.
Enquire about Topaz or Citrine →
December Birthstone — Tanzanite, Turquoise & Zircon
Modern: Tanzanite, Turquoise, Zircon · Traditional: Turquoise
Tanzanite — discovered only in 1967, found exclusively in a small region near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania — displays an extraordinary deep blue-violet colour. Tanzanite is considered "a thousand times rarer than diamond" because of its single-source geology, and supply is finite. Turquoise is one of the oldest known gemstones, with use dating back over 7,000 years — its sky-blue colour and matrix patterns have made it sacred to cultures from ancient Egypt to Native America. Zircon is a brilliant natural gemstone (not to be confused with synthetic cubic zirconia) available in blue, white, golden, and brown.
Enquire about Tanzanite, Turquoise or Zircon →
Why Birthstones Make Meaningful Gifts
A birthstone gift carries something a generic gift never can: an authentic, personal symbol that ties the recipient to a specific moment in time — their birth, an anniversary, a milestone. Birthstone jewellery has been worn for thousands of years precisely because the connection between gemstone and identity feels intuitively right.
- Engagement rings featuring the birthstone of the bride or the month she was born — or even a stone that combines her birthstone with her partner's — make for deeply personal designs.
- Mother's rings and pendants set with each child's birthstone are a classic, beloved gift.
- Milestone birthdays — 18th, 21st, 30th, 50th — are wonderfully marked with a birthstone piece that will be treasured for life.
- Newborn gifts — a small birthstone pendant set aside for a child to wear when they're older is a gift that anticipates a lifetime.
- Self-gifts — many of our customers simply love the meaning of their own birthstone.
In Daniel's Words
"A birthstone is one of those small, meaningful traditions that connects us across generations. I love designing pieces around a birthstone — there's always a story to it, always a reason behind the choice. If you're thinking about a birthstone gift but aren't sure where to start, just talk to me. We'll figure out the right stone, the right setting, and the right budget together." — Daniel, Diamond Imports
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