Usually, birthstones are associated with a person’s birth month in the year. For example, January has an official birthstone, garnet. While for those May born, emerald is their birthstone. It is believed that the origin of birthstones dates back to the Breastplate of Aaron, which had twelve gemstones representing of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Birthstones have a significant place in many customs, belief systems and traditions. While birthstones have been introduced to us in renowned colors, today the available gemstones has increased from a single traditional color to multiple choices. It offers multitude of options to go for when choosing your birthstone. Let’s unveil the exotic variety and make you fall in love with your birthstone all over again!
Alternative Birthstones for Every Month
Alternative January Birthstones
Garnet is the modern birthstone for the month of January. Loved for its gorgeous rich and velvety red hue, garnet can surprise you with a surprising range of color. Discover garnet in coveted burnt orange hues, the tantalizing purplish-pinks of a fresh orchid, to the deeper purple of a lilac and even minty green!
Alternative February Birthstones
The official birthstone for the Month of Love is amethyst. This gorgeous gemstone is loved for its striking purple hues. While well-known for its deep purple tones, fewer know about the delicate hues of Rose de France amethyst. Dainty lilac takes center stage with this feminine variety of amethyst.
Alternative March Birthstones
Loved for its oceanic hues, aquamarine is the modern birthstone for the month of March. From its blue to blue-green hues to a shade of blue, aquamarine is a fascinating stone with this eye-soothing color. However, bloodstone is known as the traditional birthstone for this month. Choose this stone for its outstanding hues. The best bloodstone displays a rich and deep green, with flecks of red.
Alternative April Birthstones
The sparkling diamond is loved for its unmatched radiance. The modern birthstone of April, diamond is always thought of as a colorless gemstone. But to the surprise of many, diamond comes in a rainbow of colors. These colored diamonds are known as fancy diamonds. Red, blue, yellow, green, and black are some its eye-arresting hues!
Alternative May Birthstones
Emerald is the modern birthstone for the month of May. This month enjoys the nature’s green hues possessed by this green gemstone. To the contrary to other birthstones, emerald solely rules this month as its birthstone.
Alternative June Birthstones
The June born are gifted with the treasure of sea as their birthstone. Pearl is the modern birthstone for the month of June. Different to its traditional white, pink, and cream counterparts, enjoy two contemporary takes on this classic gemstone. Tahitian cultured pearl and Golden South Sea cultured pearl are two of its best specimens. One portraying simulating black and other the charismatic golden color.
Moonstone and alexandrite are two stunning gemstones also considered as traditional gemstones for June. Let moonstone amaze you with a range from colorless to gray, brown, yellow, green, or pink. Or, allow the magic of alexandrite to captivate you with its unique color changing property as it shifts between greens and reds.
Alternative July Birthstones
Coming towards July, ruby is the birthstone for the month of July. Fascinating every eye with wonderful range of red hues, ruby alone rules this month. There aren’t any common or well-known alternative birthstones for July.
Alternative August Birthstones
August has a modern birthstone, peridot. Loved for its pure green, to a yellow-green or greenish-yellow crystal, this gemstone is an excellent choice for the August born. While your heart is sinking in these pleasant green hues, pink spinel will make you go gaga with its refreshing appeal!
Alternative September Birthstones
September possesses precious sapphire as its modern birthstone. Known for its rich blue hue, sapphire has always been thought as only a blue gemstone. If you love its charming blue, get ready to amaze your eyes with fancy sapphires available in wide range of color. From pink to orange, white and green, this gemstone is a full package and an excellent contemporary take on classic blue sapphire color!
Alternative October Birthstones
Opal goes with the month of October. With its exceptional rainbow-like hues of color, opal has never failed to impress. Pink tourmaline is a popular alternative October birthstone, and an excellent gemstone to look for.
Alternative November Birthstones
Topaz is the modern birthstone for the month of November. Abundance and color range makes it an exceptional selection for those born in this month. From blue to red, and more, topaz is a charming gemstone. On the other hand, don’t be surprised to find citrine as a secondary birthstone for the month of November. From citrus yellow to honey hues, it’s hard not to fall in love with this bright jewel.
Alternative December Birthstones
Much loved for its robin eggs blue color, turquoise is the birthstone for the month of December. While turquoise is forever, there are two gemstones that shares a place as modern birthstones for December. Tanzanite displays violet-blue with reddish undertone. The color is a visual charm as it displays pleochroism. Blue zircon with its bright blue tones stands out exceptionally as another great selection.
Zodiac Birthstones for Every Sign
It is believed that wearing your birthstone brings you luck. There is the possibility that your modern birth month gemstone doesn’t appeal to you. If you are looking for birthstone alternatives, there are options that exist beyond the traditional and modern list of birthstones!
The stones aligned with your zodiac sign makes a good choice.
- Aquarius: Garnet
- Pisces: Amethyst
- Aries: Bloodstone
- Taurus: Sapphire
- Gemini: Agate
- Cancer: Emerald
- Leo: Onyx
- Virgo: Carnelian
- Libra: Peridot
- Scorpio: Beryl (traditionally blue-green)
- Sagittarius: Topaz
- Capricorn: Ruby
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