Lavish Gems Journal · Birthstone guide · 15 November 2026 ← All birthstones by month November guide January guide The December birthstones are turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. All three can be blue, but they are very different materials. Turquoise is usually opaque, while tanzanite and zircon are commonly cut as transparent, faceted gems. Turquoise microcrystals on matrix. Turquoise is one of the December birthstones, alongside tanzanite and zircon. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com , Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 . Display size adjusted; image otherwise unchanged. Educational reference photograph; not a product listing or proof of treatment. On this page December birthstones: a simple comparison Turquoise: blue and green with a long history Tanzanite: a blue-violet variety of zoisite Zircon is not cubic zirconia Choosing a December birthday gift Safe care for December birthstone jewelry December birthstone questions December birthstones: a simple comparison Gem Typi...

Lavish Gems Journal · Birthstone guide · 15 November 2026 ← All birthstones by month October guide December guide November has two birthstones: topaz and citrine. They can both show warm colors, but they are different gems. Topaz has a much wider color range, while citrine is the yellow-to-orange variety of quartz. Choosing between them starts with identity, treatment and intended use. A yellow citrine specimen. Citrine and topaz are the November birthstones. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com , Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 . Display size adjusted; image otherwise unchanged. Educational reference photograph; not a product listing or proof of treatment. On this page November birthstone colors and properties Topaz: more than a golden gemstone Citrine: November's quartz birthstone Meaning and choosing a birthday gift How to care for topaz and citrine November birthstone questions November birthstone colors and properties Gem Colors Mohs hardness Topaz Colorless, bl...

Lavish Gems Journal · Birthstone guide · 15 November 2026 ← All birthstones by month September guide November guide The October birthstones are opal and tourmaline. Opal is famous for moving flashes of color. Tourmaline offers many body colors, including pink, green and blue. Both can make a personal birthday gift, but they need different care. Opal in its host rock. Opal and tourmaline are the October birthstones. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com , Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 . Display size adjusted; image otherwise unchanged. Educational reference photograph; not a product listing or proof of treatment. On this page October birthstone colors at a glance Opal: the birthstone with moving color Tourmaline: more than a pink birthstone October birthstone meanings How to choose an October birthstone gift Care: hardness does not mean unbreakable October birthstone questions October birthstone colors at a glance Gem Appearance Mohs hardness Opal Many body colors; precio...

Lavish Gems Journal · Birthstone guide · 15 November 2026 ← All birthstones by month August guide October guide The September birthstone is sapphire. Blue is the best-known color, but a September birthday gift does not have to be blue. Sapphire also occurs in pink, yellow, green, purple, orange and colorless varieties. Sapphire crystals showing a range of natural forms and colours. Sapphire is the September birthstone. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com , Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 . Display size adjusted; image otherwise unchanged. Educational reference photograph; not a product listing or proof of treatment. On this page What is sapphire? What color is September's birthstone? Sapphire meaning and history Natural, lab-grown and treated sapphire How to choose a sapphire birthday gift Sapphire durability and safe cleaning September birthstone FAQs What is sapphire? Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. Red corundum is called ruby; other colors belong t...

Lavish Gems Journal · Birthstone guide · 15 November 2026 ← All birthstones by month July guide September guide August has three birthstones: peridot, spinel and sardonyx. The familiar yellow-green stone is peridot, but it is not the only choice. Spinel offers many colors, while sardonyx has decorative bands that suit beads, cameos and other carved pieces. Peridot crystals on matrix from Pakistan. Peridot is one of the August birthstones. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com , Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 . Display size adjusted; image otherwise unchanged. Educational reference photograph; not a product listing or proof of treatment. On this page Which August birthstone should you choose? Peridot: the green August birthstone Spinel: an August gem with many colors Sardonyx: an August birthstone with bands August birthstone meanings Buying and caring for August birthstones August birthstone FAQs Which August birthstone should you choose? Stone Appearance Useful starting ...

Lavish Gems Journal · Birthstone guide · 15 November 2026 ← All birthstones by month June guide August guide The July birthstone is ruby. Its red color makes it a striking choice for a birthday gift. Before choosing one, look beyond the photograph: a ruby's treatment, condition and identity matter as much as its appearance. Ruby crystals on calcite from Hunza, Pakistan. Ruby is the July birthstone. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com , Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 . Display size adjusted; image otherwise unchanged. Educational reference photograph; not a product listing or proof of treatment. On this page What is ruby, and what color is July's birthstone? Ruby meaning: history rather than a scientific promise Natural ruby, lab-grown ruby and treatments A simple ruby buying checklist Can ruby be worn every day? How to clean a ruby safely July birthstone FAQs What is ruby, and what color is July's birthstone? Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum. Sapphir...

Lavish Gems Journal · Birthstone guide · 15 November 2026 ← All birthstones by month May guide July guide The June birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. They offer three very different looks: pearl luster, alexandrite’s change of color and moonstone’s moving sheen. Choosing between them is easier when you compare appearance, identity and the care each gem needs. A crystalline moonstone specimen. Moonstone is one of the three June birthstones, alongside pearl and alexandrite. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com , Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 . Display size adjusted; image otherwise unchanged. Educational reference photograph; not a product listing or proof of treatment. On this page June birthstones compared Pearl: a June birthstone made by a mollusk Alexandrite: the color-change June birthstone Moonstone: a soft-looking glow Which June birthstone is right for a gift? Care depends on the gem June birthstone questions June birthstones compared Birthstone Mai...

Lavish Gems Journal · Birthstone guide · 15 November 2026 ← All birthstones by month April guide June guide The May birthstone is emerald. This green gemstone is a variety of beryl, the same mineral species as aquamarine. An emerald birthday gift can be beautiful, but color alone is not enough to judge its identity, treatment or suitability for everyday wear. An emerald crystal. Emerald is the green beryl variety associated with May. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com , Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0 . Display size adjusted; image otherwise unchanged. Educational reference photograph; not a product listing or proof of treatment. On this page May birthstone at a glance Emerald color and traditional meaning What does emerald treatment mean? How to choose an emerald birthday gift How to care for emerald May birthstone questions May birthstone at a glance Question Answer Birth month May Gemstone Emerald Typical color Green to bluish green Mohs hardness 7.5–8 Emerald color...