Birthstone Rings

PHOTO:   Gemstone birthstone rings are the perfect way to celebrate your month of birth. With each gemstone being unique, your individual stone can help to express yourself through beautiful jewelry everyday.  Birthstone gemstone rings are the perfect gift for a loved one or for yourself.

Boost your gift-giving mojo by celebrating your beloved’s birthday or wedding anniversary with a gift of gemstone birthstone rings.  Birthstone rings are a perfect choice of gift for your mom or the mother of your children.

Birthstone jewelry is a great way to give a quality gift that’s beautiful, unique and something that will be well loved for decades.

Gemstone birthstone rings are rings which are set with a gemstone or gemstones which represent the month of birth.  The gemstone may be natural and taken millions of years to form deep within the earth.  However, increasingly and alternatively, gemstones may be man-made, being created in a lab.  Such gems used in birthstone gemstone rings are called synthetics.

Birthstone History

The concept of birthstones is routed deep in history.  According to the book of Exodus in the Bible, a Hebrew high priest named Aaron was ordered by God to create a breastplate with twelve gemstones.  The priestly breastplate, sometimes known as the breastplate of Aaron or the breastplate of judgement, contained twelve jewels, and each was inscribed with the name of one of the Israelite tribes.  First century Jewish Historian Josephus (who came from a priestly family), noted the names were placed according to birth order. The birth order of Jacob’s (Israel’s) male children, from firstborn to last, is Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin (Genesis 29 – 30).

The twelve gemstones on Aaron the priest have been linked to today’s modern birthstones.  The stones were set in four rows of three and were mounted in gold filigree settings. There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.  The stones were thought to be Emerald (Levi), Peridot (Simeon), Carnelian (Reuben), Rock crystal (Naphtali), Lapis Lazuli (Dan), Carbuncle (Judah), Amethyst (Issachar), Agate (Asher), Jacinth (Gad), Jasper (Benjamin), Onyx (Joseph) and Beryl (Zebulun).

PHOTO:   Gemstone birthstone rings may be natural or synthetic.  A synthetic gem material is one that is made in a laboratory, but which shares virtually all chemical, optical, and physical characteristics of its natural mineral counterpart.   Seen above is a synthetic emerald ring.

Modern Birthstones

As of 1912, the Jewelers of America Association (which has since become Jewelers of America) formalized a modern birthstones of each month list.  That list is not only accepted in the United States but generally worldwide.  The following list is the one currently used today to identify the particular stones associated with each month:

January – garnet
February – amethyst
March – aquamarine
April – diamond
May – emerald
June – pearl
July – ruby
August – peridot
September – sapphire
October – opal
November – yellow topaz
December – turquoise

The American Gem Society expands the list by providing alternative gemstones for some months. For example in the month of June, pearl may be replaced with Alexandrite or Moonstone. Options for November include Citrine and December Tanzanite, Turquoise and Zircon.

Gemstone Birthstone Rings by month

Interested to know what birthstone rings by month are?  Every month has one or more special gemstones associated with it.  These birthstones can be beautifully symbolic for dates within that month.  Some birthstones are traditional, time-honored choices, while more modern birthstones add even more diversity to the options.  Below is a month by month guide to gemstone birthstone rings.

January birthstone rings

Those who are born in the month of January are lucky enough to have one of the brightest and most colorful birthstones attached to their birth month, depicting their vibrant personalities. The garnet is the stone that we use today to signify our belonging to the month of January.  This stone has already gained quite some significance from ancient times and it is still one that makes a statement when it is worn. Garnet colour can range from a deep red (called pyrope) to a beautiful green (called tsavorites).  Garnet stones have been found in countries situated in Africa, India, as well as Sri Lanka.  Furthermore, the garnet gemstone is also used to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of marriage.

PHOTO:  Garnets come in a selection of colours and have many different varieties, but the most popular shade of garnet gemstones is dark red. According to IGS the redder and less brown, the garnet is the more valuable it is.  The most expensive reds approach rubies in color. [Photo credit: GLAMIRA]

February birthstone rings

Traditionally the Amethyst birthstone is associated with a number of different properties, a few of which may include stability, peace, courage, balance, sincerity, inner strength and calm disposition.  It is worth a mention here that the Amethyst birthstone is commonly known as the Sobriety stone and has a history of its utilisation for the purpose of treating alcohol and other such addictions.  The ancient Greeks believed in this and made some of their wine Goblets out of Amethyst hoping that they could drink more without becoming intoxicated.  The amethyst gemstones colour can range from pale lilac to violet to red violet. Amethyst is widely found but key locations include Zambia, Brazil, and Uruguay.  The Amethyst is also a 6th wedding anniversary gemstone gift.

PHOTO:   Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz and is the birthstone for February.  Seen above is a cushion cut 4 carat amethyst ring.    Here’s a tip.  If you are considering amethyst birthstone rings for women try and find a design that provides some protection to the central stone.

March birthstone gemstone rings

The birthstones of each month list two birthstones for people born in March. One of them (and the most common) is known as Aquamarine and the other one is called Bloodstone. Aquamarine, as evident from the name, is derived from Latin language in which Aqua means water and marine means the sea. The gemstone has been known to be the best for sailors protecting them against all sorts of mishaps. While the color is commonly intense in the bigger stones, the greenish blue or the blue green color of the gemstone is usually light in tone. A few of the regions where the stone can be found include Brazil, Pakistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia and Mozambique. The Aquamarine is also 19th year wedding anniversary gemstone gift.

April birthstone rings

Those born during the month of April have one of the most regal and most prized gemstone as the April birthstone is Diamond.  Diamonds symbolize purity, eternal love, and faith.  It is the ultimate birthstone because it has much strength and it is also the hardest element that can be found in nature.  Most people think diamonds are white or colorless gems, but there are also many colored diamonds.  In fact, diamonds are available in almost all the colors of a rainbow plus browns, grays, and white.  Of these yellow or canary-colored diamonds are most common.  Blue, pink, black or green colored diamonds are rare.  So they are more valuable as compared to the colorless ones.  According to the Kimberly process, the top five producing countries by volume of production are Russia, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Australia and Canada.  The diamond is also a 60th year wedding anniversary gemstone gift.

PHOTO:    April’s birthstone is the diamond (the lucky things!).   If you can’t afford gemstone birthstone rings with natural diamond why not consider synthetic diamond?   Another option would be a fake solitaire diamond ring as seen in the above photo.

May birthstone rings

Those who are born in the month of May are fortunate to have one of the most valuable and beautifully colored birthstones attached to their birth month – the emerald.  According to GIA, emerald, the green variety of Beryl, is the most famous and valuable green gemstone.  Its beautiful green color, combined with durability and rarity, make it one of the most expensive gemstones.  Deep green is the most desired color in Emeralds.  In general, the paler the color of an Emerald, the lower its value.  Very pale colored stones are not called Emeralds but rather “Green Beryl”.  Key supply locations for emerald are Zambia, Columbia, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.  The emerald is also a 35th year wedding anniversary gemstone gift.

PHOTO:  Emerald is the green variety of the mineral beryl and is the most valuable green gemstone.  Emerald hues range from yellow-green to blue-green, with the primary and most popular colour being that iconic rich green.   Engagement rings with birthstones for the month of May include this 1.5 carat lab created emerald ring.   [Photo credit:  Luxuria Diamonds]

June birthstone rings

Pearl and Alexandrite are two of the three birthstones for the month of June; the third is the Moonstone.  Alexandrite is named after Prince Alexander of Russia.  It was discovered in 1839 on the prince’s birthday.  The gemstone was found in the Ural Mountains of Russia in an emerald mine. Pearls have an organic origin are not found within the Earth like most gemstones.  Some are found naturally in mollusks inhabiting freshwater settings such as rivers or in the sea, while others are created inside the shells of certain species of clams and oysters.  Alexandrite is a rare stone, and is that explains why it’s very expensive. It is mainly found in Sri Lanka, and has also been found in Myanmar, Tanzania, Brazil, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.  The Mother of Pearl is a 1st wedding anniversary gemstone whilst the alexandrite gem is a 55th year wedding anniversary gift.

PHOTO:  Pearl is widely considered too soft for gemstone engagement rings so we prefer Alexandrite.  June’s alternative birthstone is alexandrite. Often described by gem aficionados as “emerald by day, ruby by night,” alexandrite is the very rare colour-changing variety of the mineral chrysoberyl.  The above ring is from Miadonna and uses a lab-created stone.  [Photo credit, Miadonna]

July birthstone rings

The list of birthstones of each month notes that Ruby is birthstone for July.  The Ruby is known as the ‘King of Gemstones’ and the word comes from the Latin word for red- Ruber.  It is the gemstone for those born in July.  The Sanskrit word for ruby is “ratnarj” and the loose translation for that is “king of the gems” which is why the ruby is known as “King of Gemstones”.  Rubies were discovered around 2,000 years ago and though we don’t know where exactly, it is assumed to be India.  Unlike diamonds and emeralds, it is incredibly difficult to find large rubies, most of them being small flecks and stones.  This is why it is much more valuable than other precious gemstones as its size increases.  Only four gems fall into the precious gems category and those are the diamond, the emerald, the sapphire and the ruby. Second only in durability to diamond, the most valuable rubies come from Burma, which is now known as Myanmar.  Ruby gemstones are a great choice for gemstone birthstone rings. They may also be given as gifts to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary.

PHOTO:   From left to right, the top three colored stones, Sapphire, Emerald and Ruby.   However, rubies are considered the most precious of these three.  Rubies command a higher price-per-carat than any other gem, beating emeralds and sapphires almost effortlessly.  According to IGS the finest rubies have reached staggering values, with some being worth over a million dollars per carat.

August birthstone gems

The August birthstone is peridot.  Peridot gems are rare and are one of the only gems that come in only one color.  While it really does only come in an olive green color, the tint and intensity of this color can very between individual gems.  The color variation in peridot gemstone occurs because of how much iron is contained within the structure of the crystal.  This causes the exact coloring to vary between yellowish to a brownish-green as well as in a perfectly olive green color.  The most valuable color variant of peridot is a dark olive green.  The main sources for the peridot gemstone are the USA and Pakistan. Peridot gemstones are also given as gifts to celebrate the 16th year of marriage.

PHOTO:   Peridot is the mineral olivine, a type of magnesium iron silicate. Peridot comes in one color green though the  hues can vary depending on the amount of iron in the stone’s structure.   Seen above is a peridot gemstone birthstone ring featuring a 1.4 carat yellow-green peridot gemstone.   This gem is encircled and flanked by pristine sparkling white cubic zirconia’s.

September birthstone jewelry

Sapphire is one of the rarest gemstones on the planet and the birthstone of September.  Sapphire comes in a variety of colors, not just the famous blue. There are purple sapphires, yellow sapphires, pink sapphire and even green colored sapphires – yet the royal blue color is the favorite to most.  Sapphire includes gemstones of every hue of corundum, except for red, which is ruby. The name corundum comes from ancient Sanskrit, while the name “Sapphire” comes from the Persian word ‘safir.’  Sapphire gemstones are considered by some to be the guardians of love.  Modern sapphires come from mines in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Australia. Sapphire long considered a stone of loyalty and fidelity is also the gemstone traditionally given as a gift to celebrate the 45th year of marriage.

PHOTO:    The Sapphire is a precious gemstone which is a variety of the mineral corundum. Sapphires come in a variety of colors including white, yellow, purple, orange, and green.  But Sapphire is best known for its vibrant shades of blue.    Gemstone birthstone rings in Sapphire are popular.  The above oval sapphire and diamond ring is from Blue Nile.    [Photo credit, Blue Nile]

October birthstone gems

There are two birthstones for the month of October; namely opal and tourmaline.  These two stones are equally beautiful and elegant in their shades and one does not outdo the other in worth.  Both gemstones are forms of very old stones and can be traced back hundreds of years into the past.  With opal’s beautiful and unique designs, and tourmaline’s gorgeous crystal web, you can be sure to sport these stones throughout the year.  Opals range in colour from milky white, to blue-green, to red and yellow.  Tourmaline comes in a rainbow of colors such as cranberry, magenta, pink, orange, yellow, forest green, ocean blue, and many more.  Gem and specimen tourmaline is mined chiefly in Brazil and Africa. Australia is responsible for the most of the world’s supply of precious opal.  Opal is a 14th year wedding anniversary gemstone and tourmaline an 8th year anniversary gemstone.

November’s birthstone is Citrine

The month of November has two beautiful gems that represent the birthstones. They are Citrine and Topaz.  Topaz can range in color from colorless which is its pure form, to blue, champagne, yellow, orange, red and pink.  The word “topaz” could have stemmed from the Sanskrit (the ancient language of India) word, “tapas”, which means “fire”.  Topaz is exposed to radiation (a process known as irradiation) and then usually heated, to produce popular striking blue colors.  A deep blue enhanced topaz is known as “London blue”; medium blue is called “Swiss blue” and light-blue is termed “sky blue”.

Citrine is part of the Quartz family and only comes in an orange colour ranging from a soft yellow orange right up to the intense fiery orange.  Topaz is widely available with deposits being found in Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Myanmar (Burma), China, Germany, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the USA.  The largest source of Citrine is Brazil.  Citrine is a wonderful choice for birthstone gemstone rings.  Citrine is a 13th year anniversary gemstone and blue topaz celebrates the 4th wedding anniversary.

PHOTO:  A Citrine solitaire ring from the Luxuria® jewelry brand.  These gemstone birthstone rings feature a marquise shape orange-yellow color citrine gem of approx. 18mm top width and large (approx.) 3.5 carat t.w. , six prong set into a chunky 10mm wide tapered 925 sterling silver band.  [SOURCE:  Luxuria Diamonds]

December’s birthstone is blue!

Those who were born in December have the amazing choice of choosing between 3 different minerals to make their birthstones.  The birthstones for December are Tanzanite, Zircon, and Turquoise.  What these stones seem to have in common is the fact that they all share the same colour but in different shades; blue.  For this reason it is also not uncommon to find blue topaz also included in some December birthstone ring lists.  Tanzanite, Zircon, and Turquoise are probably three of the most precious stones to sprout from the earth’s core.

Tanzanite is one of the newest gems on the market and was discovered only in 1967 in Tanzania.  This lovely gem has been a worldwide success, and demand continues to exceed supply.  Tanzanite is a variety of zoisite, which is a member of the epidote group.  Colors include blue, purple and green.  The most highly coveted color is a deep blue which shows a purple shimmer.  Tanzanite is a 24th year wedding anniversary gemstone and Turquoise an 11th year anniversary gemstone.

PHOTO:  December’s birthstone is not one but three different gemstones. Zircon, turquoise and tanzanite are all blue.  Some lists add blue topaz gemstone birthstone rings as an affordable option.   Seen above is a stunning sky blue topaz diamond halo ring.    These birthstone gemstone rings combine precious natural diamond with semi-precious topaz.

What’s the difference between mined and synthetic gemstone rings?

Whatever your choice of engagement rings with birthstones be aware that many gems today are lab created.  What’s the difference?  Not much – other than price – because chemically they are identical.   The only difference is that synthetic gemstones are grown in a laboratory vs. genuine gemstones that are formed in nature.  In order for a laboratory grown gemstone to be called synthetic, it must have a genuine counterpart and must match in chemical and physical properties i.e. crystal structure, chemical composition, hardness etc.  This is a very crucial part of the definition and everyone looking into birthstones and gemstones should be aware of this.

In contrast genuine mined gemstones have taken millions of years to form, deep within the earth.  No two genuine gemstones are identical.  Having a genuine mined gemstone in a gemstone birthstone ring will have more appeal to some people than others.

In Summary

Birthstone gemstone rings are rings set with a gemstone that represents the month of birth.  The popularity of birthstones dates back to ancient times when civilizations believed that gemstones had incredible powers such as luck, health and prosperity.  Traditionally, each month is associated with a single gemstone, but as discussed above there are a few months with multiple birthstones.  The birthstones associated with birth months today are not necessarily the same ones that were used in ancient times.  In those days, color was the most important feature of a gemstone so they did not distinguish between gems the way we do today.

Gemstone birthstone rings are more than just glittering gifts.  Whether it’s a birthstone ring for mum or your wife or an engagement ring featuring your beloved birthstone or simply a wedding anniversary gift, take your time to peruse our range.  We hope you found this birthstone rings by month guide helpful.  If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to use the form on our contact page.

Warranty & FREE shipping to USA and 30 countries

Luxuria® Diamonds stands behind its products by offering a warranty and 30 day right of return on all its gemstone birthstone rings.

Further, we offer FREE economy shipping on all birthstone rings to the USA and 30 other countries as well.

Please visit our colored gemstone engagement rings collection page to view more options for natural semi-precious and lab-created gemstone engagement rings

Do you have an interest in high quality Amethyst birthstone rings?  Click the link to read 7 tips for buying Amethyst rings.

About the Author

This article has been published by Luxuria Diamonds.  The Luxuria brand is owned by Stylabs Limited of New Zealand.  Stylabs is a multi-award winning jewelry wholesaler of fine and fashion Jewellery.  Stylabs is a member of the Prestigious Jewelers’ and Watchmakers Association of New Zealand (JWNZ) and a professional member of the International Gemological Society (IGS), USA.