Birth Flower & Birthstone Finder
Pick a month or your date of birth to see its modern and traditional birthstones, the matching birth flowers and what each one traditionally means.
All 12 months at a glance
How to use the Birth Flower & Birthstone Finder
- Choose a birth month from the list, or enter a full date of birth.
- Press Check birthstone (it also updates as soon as you change the month).
- Read the gem cards: Modern and Traditional badges show which list each stone belongs to, with colour, hardness, mineral family and folklore.
- Scroll to the birth flowers for the month's flowers and their meanings.
- Use the 12-month chart to compare months, or press Copy summary to share the result.
Birthstone chart by month
| Month | Modern birthstone(s) | Traditional | Mohs hardness | Birth flower(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet | 6.5–7.5 | Carnation, snowdrop |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst | 7 | Violet, primrose |
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | Bloodstone | 7.5–8 / 6.5–7 | Daffodil |
| April | Diamond | Diamond | 10 | Daisy, sweet pea |
| May | Emerald | Emerald | 7.5–8 | Lily of the valley, hawthorn |
| June | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | Pearl | 2.5–4.5 / 8.5 / 6–6.5 | Rose, honeysuckle |
| July | Ruby | Ruby | 9 | Larkspur, water lily |
| August | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx | Sardonyx | 6.5–7 / 8 / 6.5–7 | Gladiolus, poppy |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire | 9 | Aster, morning glory |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Opal | 5.5–6.5 / 7–7.5 | Marigold, cosmos |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Topaz | 8 / 7 | Chrysanthemum |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon, blue topaz | Turquoise | 5–6 / 6–7 / 6–7.5 / 8 | Narcissus, holly |
How the birthstone list changed over time
Linking gems to months is ancient, often traced to the twelve stones of the High Priest's breastplate described in the Book of Exodus, but for centuries every region had its own version. In 1912 the American National Association of Jewelers (today Jewelers of America) published a standard list, and it has been updated several times since:
- 1952: the Jewelry Industry Council of America added alexandrite (June), citrine (November), pink tourmaline (October) and zircon (December, replacing lapis lazuli), and made aquamarine the main March stone.
- 2002: tanzanite was added to December.
- 2016: spinel was added to August.
Because the lists add rather than replace, older stones such as bloodstone and sardonyx still count, and you are free to wear whichever stone of your month you like best.
Caring for your birthstone
The Mohs scale ranks how well a mineral resists scratching, from talc (1) to diamond (10). Ordinary dust contains quartz (7), so gems softer than 7 slowly lose their polish if they rub against everyday surfaces.
- Hard and tough (8–10): diamond, ruby, sapphire, alexandrite, spinel and topaz handle daily wear in rings. Topaz can still split along its cleavage if knocked.
- Medium (6.5–7.5): garnet, amethyst, citrine, peridot, tourmaline and aquamarine suit most jewellery with a little care.
- Delicate (below 6.5 or porous): pearl, opal, turquoise and moonstone prefer pendants and earrings. Keep them away from perfume, hairspray and harsh cleaners, and wipe pearls with a soft damp cloth after wearing.
- Treatments: many popular stones are routinely enhanced: most blue topaz is irradiated, most blue zircon and tanzanite are heated, and many emeralds are oil-filled. Ask for disclosure when buying.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
The modern list was created in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) and has been expanded since, often to offer a more affordable or more durable alternative. June has pearl, alexandrite and moonstone, August has peridot, spinel and sardonyx, and December has turquoise, tanzanite, zircon and blue topaz.
What is the difference between modern and traditional birthstones?
Traditional birthstones are the older single stones handed down by custom before the modern list was standardised, such as bloodstone for March and sardonyx for August. Modern birthstones follow the official jewellery-trade list. Many months share the same stone on both lists.
Which birthstone is the hardest and best for everyday rings?
Diamond (April) is the hardest at 10 on the Mohs scale, followed by ruby and sapphire (July and September) at 9, and alexandrite (June) at 8.5. Softer stones such as pearl, opal and turquoise are lovely in earrings and pendants but scratch more easily in rings.
What are the birth flowers for each month?
January: carnation and snowdrop. February: violet and primrose. March: daffodil. April: daisy and sweet pea. May: lily of the valley and hawthorn. June: rose and honeysuckle. July: larkspur and water lily. August: gladiolus and poppy. September: aster and morning glory. October: marigold and cosmos. November: chrysanthemum. December: narcissus and holly.
Are zodiac stones the same as birthstones?
No. Birthstones follow the calendar month, while zodiac stones follow your sun sign, which changes around the 20th to 23rd of each month. Lists of zodiac stones vary a lot between sources, so the tool labels its zodiac stone as one commonly cited choice.
Is my October birthstone opal or tourmaline?
Both. Opal is the traditional October stone and tourmaline, especially pink tourmaline, was added as a modern alternative. Either is correct.