What Is Your Birthstone?

First, a clarification: Your birthstone depends on your birth month, not your zodiac sign. Someone born on April 15 may be an Aries or a Taurus depending on the year, but their birthstone is always diamond! Birthstones follow a calendar tradition separate from the gemstones associated with zodiac signs. This guide explores the tradition's origins, all twelve birthstones and their alternatives, and popular ways to give birthstone jewelry.

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Where Did the Birthstone Tradition Come From?

The association between natural stones and birth months goes back to a biblical account: the breastplate of Aaron the high priest, adorned with twelve stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the first century, the historian Flavius Josephus was the first to explicitly link those twelve stones to the twelve months of the year and the twelve signs of the zodiac, laying the groundwork for a tradition that would take many different regional forms over the centuries.

The list we know today is much more recent: it was established in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers at a meeting in Kansas City. The goal was primarily commercial… It brought together traditions that varied by country and region so jewelers could offer the same stone for each month. The list was revised several times: first in 1952, then in 2002, when tanzanite was added for December, and in 2016, when spinel was added for August.

What Are the 12 Birthstones?

Why Do Some Months Have More Than One Birthstone?

Six months on today's list have more than one possible birthstone, while the other six have just one. There's a historical reason for that… The revisions of 1952, 2002, and 2016 added those alternatives to make birthstones more accessible. Some stones on the 1912 calendar had become rare or expensive, so a more affordable second option was introduced for the same months. April's diamond and May's emerald, however, have never been revised: they are the only two stones from the original 1912 list that remain the sole option for their months today.

When Should You Give Birthstone Jewelry?

There are two common occasions, each with its own approach:

• For a new baby or a baptism: choose the child's birthstone, often set in small jewelry such as a medallion, delicate bracelet, or pendant. It's meant to be treasured, not necessarily worn right away.
• For a birthday or a personal gift, at any age: choose the recipient's birthstone for jewelry they can wear every day, such as a ring, necklace, or pair of earrings.

Either way, a birthstone offers a simple, personal way to choose jewelry when a large selection might otherwise feel overwhelming.

Explore Our Birthstone Jewelry

Ocarat offers a selection of jewelry to celebrate a new baby or baptism, along with a collection for children. Free shipping in mainland France and Belgium, four interest-free payments, and 30 days to change your mind.

Further Reading

→ Diamond Guide · Precious Gemstone Guide · Natural or Cultured Pearls?

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