Monthly Birthstone Colors
Birthstone colors have had a huge symbolical significance on gemstones perception, attributed magical virtues and beliefs since a long long time ago. Erasmus of Rotterdam, 15th century Dutch philosopher, wrote: “Nature delights to represent all things by colors and forms, but more especially in gems”
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Birthstone Color Meaning
Yellow always represented the Sun and symbolized generosity if worn by a lady. Red birthstone color, often associated with the planet Mars, was thought to be the most vivid of colors and mean nobility and pride. White gems were believed to signify purity, friendship, and integrity. Blue crystals were the symbol of Venus, the planet that represents love and beauty.
Purple color of birthstones has always been associated with Jupiter and denoted good judgement and high thoughts. Green, connected to Mercury, was thought to symbolize joy, hope, and delight. The planet Saturn is connected to black, and black hues in birthstones were believed to mean constancy and fortitude. Pink or rose crystals represent, you guessed it right, love and passion.
From the ancient times gemstone colors have been associated with the planets, signs of zodiac and tribes if pre-biblical Israelites, but arguably the main connection is to biblical high priest Aaron’s breastplate. Monthly birthstone colors and birthstones by months are the result of interpretation of the 12 gems set into Aaron’s ephod.
Because there are multiple interpretations of gems of the breastplate, as well as multiple association of these crystals not to birth months only, there are several main and alternative birthstone lists. For our list of birthstone colors by month we used what we consider the main birthstone lists: American Jewelers Association list, Special Apostle and Guardian Angel birth gem lists.
What color are birthstones for each month? Here is our monthly birthstone colors guide. Please note that many gems occur in a multitude of hues and shades which makes it impossible to show all of those variations on the picture hence we use main colors on the images below.
March, April, and May Birthstone Colors
If you are in Northern hemisphere than this time of the year means spring to you. Spring monthly birthstone colors definitely represent nature’s awakening in all its glory with an abundance of green birthstones! One can also notice that spring appears to be the time with most birthstones that have one color only.
March Birthstone Colors
Aquamarine - comes in one color only. You guessed it right, the color is also called aquamarine because it resembles the ocean
Bloodstone - green with red dots famous variety of jasper
Ruby - rubies are red, everybody knows that
Emerald - green variety of beryl
April Birthstone Colors
Diamond - occurs in most imaginable colors and hues with red diamond being the rarest birthstone
Topaz - provide a good color choice of colorless, yellow, blue, red, green, pink, orange, white, and brown
Carnelian - brownish red variety of chalcedony quartz
May Birthstone Colors
Emerald - the famous green birthstone that is also one of the original four precious stones
Red Garnet - red garnet is obviously red
Peridot - peridot is another birth gem that is known to occur in one color only. In this case it is light green.
June, July, August Birthstone Colors
Northern hemisphere summer months birthstones do not disappoint and deliver the biggest range of facetable gems that exist in almost all imaginable color pallets.
June Birthstone Colors
Pearl - natural colors of pearl are white, cream, pink and black
Moonstone - mostly known for white, grey and blue hues, thought also occurs in pink, green, and peach
Alexandrite - alexandrite changes colors depending of light source. Under natural light it is green or pink, under incandescent light it is either red or raspberry
Emerald - green variety of beryl
Beryl - if we discard very famous separate varieties of beryl (emerald and aquamarine), beryl exists in pretty much all other colors
July Birthstone Colors
Ruby - an ancient, mystical and very famous red birthstone
Sapphire - sapphire is a famous blue birthstone that is also available in most other colors apart from red because red sapphire (corundum) is called ruby which is a birthstone on its own
Topaz - historically true topaz was considered to be yellow birthstone, though nowadays we know it can also be blue, orange, colorless, grey, pink, red, and green
August Birthstone Colors
Peridot - peridot is a birth crystal that is known to occur in one color only - olive green
Spinel - birthstone spinel is known to have the most bright and vivid colors which are plenty to choose from as it comes in the whole spectrum of the rainbow as well as colorless and black
Diamond - is found in most imaginable colors and tones
Sardonyx - is a brownish-red-orange variety of onyx
September, October, November Birthstone Colors
Just like the magnificent Northern hemisphere fall and spectacular Southern hemisphere spring, September-October-November deliver the most birthstones that display color combinations and intricate patterns.
September Birthstone Colors
Sapphire - comes in almost all varieties of colors and shades apart from red that belongs to ruby
Jacinth - jacinth is red-orange and a very famous version of zircon.
Chrysoprase - chrysoprase is a green type of quartz
July Birthstone Colors
Opal - occurs in all imaginable colors and their combinations. There are two major types of opals. Precious type displays play of colors, and common one does not
Tourmaline - most common color of tourmaline is black, however it can be any color including bi- and tri-color
Agate - any color you can imagine you will find it in agates, and most likely it will be combinations of multiple colors represented in fascinating patterns
Jacinth - a red-orange variety of zircon that can be traced back thousands of years
August Birthstone Colors
Topaz - nowadays blue is the most popular color of topaz, however it also occurs in yellow, orange, colorless, grey, pink, red, and green
Citrine - is a yellow type of quartz
Amethyst - a well known lavender variety of quartz
December, January, and February Birthstone Colors
December, January, and February monthly birthstone colors deliver a splendid choice of full spectrum faceted gems, famous and popular single color crystals, as well as birthstones that occur in almost all imaginable color combinations and patterns.
December Birthstone Colors
Zircon - zircon is the only gem that can come so close to diamond in ‘sparklingness’. Just like diamond, it comes in almost all imaginable colors
Tanzanite - can be blue, violet or burgundy depending on crystal orientation
Turquoise - is famous for its blue-green turquoise color
Beryl - beryl can be found in the full rainbow spectrum including black. Green and bluish-green colored beryl are separated into their own varieties of emerald and aquamarine respectively
Sapphire - apart from red, which is considered to be ruby, occurs in pretty much all hues and shades
January Birthstone Colors
Garnet - virtually all colors can be attributed to garnet
Onyx - is a black birthstone
Jasper - all colors mixed in a variety of patterns
February Birthstone Colors
Amethyst - is a purple variety of quartz that was very expensive until recent times
Jasper - jasper mesmerizes with its variety of pretty much all colors mixed into intricate patterns
Red Garnet - it is, well, red
As you now know, monthly birthstone colors provide a magnificent choice of gems, hues and shades irrespective of one’s birth month. Mother nature created all those wonderful crystals for us to enjoy!
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