A birthstone is a gemstone traditionally associated with each month of the year. The modern birthstone list was standardized by the American National Retail Jewelers Association in 1912, though the tradition dates back thousands of years to ancient cultures who believed gemstones held protective and healing powers.

Absolutely. There are no rules — birthstones make meaningful personal gifts, but many people choose gemstones simply for their color, beauty, or symbolism. Wearing a loved one's birthstone is a popular and deeply sentimental choice.

Alexandrite (June) is one of the rarest birthstones, prized for its dramatic color change from green in daylight to red under incandescent light. Fine quality alexandrite is rarer than ruby or sapphire. Tanzanite (December) is also exceptionally rare — found only in a single location at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and with diminishing supplies.

Sapphire (September) and diamond (April) are consistently among the most popular, driven by their use in engagement rings. Ruby (July) and emerald (May) are the most coveted among the colored birthstones — and both are stones we carry in AA–AAA grade at Jewelry Direct.

Diamond (April) is typically the most expensive birthstone per carat, though fine Burmese rubies and Colombian emeralds can exceed diamond prices at the top end of the market. Alexandrite at high quality is also extraordinarily valuable.

Many cultures and spiritual traditions attribute healing or protective properties to gemstones — these beliefs have existed across ancient Egypt, India, Greece, and Rome, and continue today. While these properties aren't scientifically verified, the personal meaning, intention, and symbolism people bring to their birthstones is very real.

Several months have multiple birthstones, reflecting both traditional and modern lists: June has alexandrite, pearl, and moonstone; August has peridot, spinel, and sardonyx; October has opal and tourmaline; November has topaz and citrine; December has tanzanite, turquoise, and blue zircon.