What is the birthstone for each month?
This is the modern US list, standardized by the national jewelers' association and used by nearly every American jeweler. A few months have more than one official stone, which is why your December ring might be turquoise, tanzanite or zircon and all three are "correct."
| Month | Birthstone(s) | What it is usually worth |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Modest as a gem; most garnet jewelry sells on its gold or silver mounting |
| February | Amethyst | Abundant since huge Brazilian finds; the mounting usually carries the value |
| March | Aquamarine | Fine deep-blue stones have real gem value; pale ones mostly do not |
| April | Diamond | Real, gradable resale value in its own right, on the 4Cs |
| May | Emerald | Genuine emerald of good color is a true precious gem with real value |
| June | Pearl, alexandrite | Varies hugely: fine strands and true alexandrite valuable, mass-market pearls not |
| July | Ruby | Real gem resale value; fine untreated rubies are among the priciest colored stones |
| August | Peridot | Modest gem value; the precious-metal setting is usually the bigger number |
| September | Sapphire | Real gem resale value, led by strong blue color and untreated stones |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Mostly modest, though fine black opal and rare tourmalines are exceptions |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Both plentiful; nearly all the resale value is in the gold or silver mounting |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon | Turquoise and zircon modest; good tanzanite carries genuine gem value |
Alternate stones: spinel for August, bloodstone for March, sapphire rings for September
Several months carry alternates: spinel joined peridot for August in 2016, bloodstone is March's traditional stone alongside aquamarine, and pearl shares June with alexandrite and moonstone. Fine red spinel is a genuinely valuable gem; bloodstone is modest. September sapphire rings remain the strongest non-diamond birthstone sellers we see.
The honest summary: diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald and true alexandrite are the birthstones with dependable resale value as gems. For most of the other months, a typical piece of birthstone jewelry is worth mainly its precious-metal mounting, and that part is priced off the live market, not opinion.
How is birthstone jewelry actually priced?
Every piece of birthstone jewelry carries two values, and a fair appraisal separates them in front of you. First the stone: a diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, fine tanzanite or true alexandrite is evaluated as a gem, on color, clarity, cut, size and any certification. Then the mounting: the gold, platinum or silver it sits in is weighed and tested, and that half is pure math against the live spot price, the same feed our gold price page shows all day.
This is why a small January garnet ring in heavy 14k gold can be worth more than a large amethyst pendant in thin silver, and why you should never let anyone quote "the ring" as one mystery number. Ask for the stone value and the metal value separately. At our counters you watch both halves of that math, the appraisal is free, and there is no obligation to sell.
Pearls are the one birthstone that needs its own conversation: natural pearls and fine akoya or South Sea strands have serious value, while mass-market freshwater pearls have very little, so bring any paperwork or original boxes you have.
Birthstone jewelry has two values: the stone and the metal. We price both in front of you, free, with same-day cash if you like the number.
Find your nearest of our 8 storesBirthstone FAQs
Which birthstones are actually worth money?
Diamond (April), ruby (July), sapphire (September), emerald (May) and true alexandrite (June) hold real resale value as gems, along with fine tanzanite. Most garnet, amethyst, citrine and topaz jewelry sells mainly on the value of its gold or silver mounting.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
The modern US list added alternates so every month has an affordable option: June carries pearl and alexandrite, October opal and tourmaline, November topaz and citrine, and December turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. Any of a month's listed stones counts as that month's birthstone.
Is my birthstone ring worth anything if the stone is cheap?
Often yes, because the mounting is its own value. A gold or platinum setting is weighed and priced against the live metal market regardless of the stone in it, and that number is frequently larger than the gem value for months like January, February, August and November.
Are pearls valuable as a June birthstone?
It varies more than any other birthstone. Natural pearls and fine akoya or South Sea strands can be genuinely valuable, while mass-market freshwater pearls carry little resale value, so an in-person look at luster, size, matching and any certificates is the only honest answer.