| There have been many different lists of stones | | | | Brazil producing some of the finest stones. |
| that correspond with the months or signs of the | | | | - June - Pearl or Moonstone, white color. Pearls |
| zodiac. The most recent one is a list that was | | | | are the only gems that come from living |
| adopted by the American National Association of | | | | creatures. |
| Jewelers in 1912. This is the official list of | | | | - July - Ruby gemstone, red color. Ruby and |
| birthstones used in the United States. Not only are | | | | Sapphire are types of the mineral corundum. The |
| certain stones associated with a given month, but | | | | only gemstone harder than a ruby or sapphire is a |
| each month has a color associated with it. These | | | | diamond. |
| colors have been derived from the natural color | | | | - August - Peridot gemstone, pale green color. |
| of the individual birthstones. Following is the | | | | Peridot occurs in many areas of the world, and is |
| modern list of gemstones and corresponding | | | | also occasionally found in meteorites. |
| colors: | | | | - September - Sapphire gemstone, deep blue |
| - January - Garnet gemstone, deep red color. | | | | color. Sapphire occurs in nature in many different |
| Although garnet is most often thought of as being | | | | colors besides blue, but the blue stone is |
| a red stone, garnet occurs in every color except | | | | associated with September. |
| blue. Each color of garnet technically has its own | | | | - October - Opal gemstone, multi-colors or pink. |
| name. | | | | There are two types of opals, precious and |
| - February - Amethyst gemstone, purple color. | | | | common. Precious opals are the stones that |
| Amethyst is one of the most popular gemstones | | | | display the 'fire' or play of colors the stone is |
| and is worn by many regardless of their birth | | | | famous for. |
| month. Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz. | | | | - November - Yellow topaz or Citrine gemstones, |
| - March - Aquamarine gemstone, pale blue color. | | | | yellow color. Yellow topaz of good quality is |
| Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family of | | | | relatively rare and expensive. Citrine is often |
| gems, along with emerald. | | | | substituted. |
| - April - Diamond gemstone, white or clear color. | | | | - December - Blue topaz or turquoise gemstones, |
| There is nothing else like the sparkle and fire of a | | | | blue color. Blue topaz is sometimes irradiated to |
| good quality diamond in the world of gems. | | | | improve and deepen the blue color. Tanzanite was |
| - May - Emerald gemstone, green color. Emeralds | | | | added to the December birthstone selections by |
| are found in many countries, with Columbia and | | | | the American Gem Trade Association in 2002. |