Everyone knows at least one of their birthstones - the gem associated with the month of their birth. Some months, however, have more than one gem.
The Official Modern Birthstone List was established in 1912, by the American National Retail Jewelers Association (now known as JA), and has only been adjusted 3 times since then:
- 1952 - Alexandrite (June), Citrine (November), Pink Tourmaline (October) and Blue Zircon (December) were added.
- 2002 - Tanzanite was added to December.
- 2016 - Spinel was added to August.
The table below shows the birthstones on the list from the USA, and also the list from Britain. The British List seems to be mostly based on the Traditional Birthstones that have been used since the 15th Century, with slight adjustments made through the centuries. In New Zealand we tend to use a combination of both lists.
| Birthstones | USA | Britain |
| January | Garnet | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine, Bloodstone | Bloodstone, Aquamarine |
| April | Diamond | Diamond, Rock Crystal |
| May | Emerald | Emerald, Chrysoprase |
| June | Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite | Pearl, Moonstone |
| July | Ruby | Ruby, Carnelian |
| August | Peridot, Spinel | Peridot, Sardonyx |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli |
| October | Opal, Pink Tourmaline | Opal |
| November | Topaz, Citrine | Topaz, Citrine |
| December | Turquoise, Blue Zircon, Tanzanite | Tanzanite, Turquoise |
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