The birthstones by month, as GIA lists them, are: January garnet; February amethyst; March aquamarine and bloodstone; April diamond; May emerald; June pearl, alexandrite and moonstone; July ruby; August peridot, spinel and sardonyx; September sapphire; October opal and tourmaline; November topaz and citrine; December tanzanite, turquoise and zircon. The practical difference between them is care: some are fine in an ultrasonic cleaner, and some can be damaged by one.
Birthstone chart by month
| Month | Birthstone(s) | Ultrasonic or steam cleaner? |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Warm soapy water and a soft brush is always safe |
| February | Amethyst | Ultrasonic yes, steam no |
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | Aquamarine usually safe if it has no fractures or liquid inclusions; bloodstone in warm soapy water |
| April | Diamond | Usually yes |
| May | Emerald | Never ultrasonic |
| June | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | Pearl: soft damp cloth. Moonstone: no. Alexandrite: usually safe |
| July | Ruby | Usually yes for untreated, heat-treated and lattice diffusion-treated stones |
| August | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx | Peridot: never steam or ultrasonic |
| September | Sapphire | Usually yes for untreated, heat-treated and lattice diffusion-treated stones |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Opal: warm soapy water only. Tourmaline: not recommended |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Topaz: no steam or ultrasonic. Citrine: ultrasonic usually okay, steam risky |
| December | Tanzanite, turquoise, zircon | Tanzanite and turquoise: never. Zircon: not recommended |
GIA notes that "June is one of only three months (the others are August and December) that has three birthstones."
Which birthstones should never go in an ultrasonic cleaner?
GIA's care guidance advises against ultrasonic cleaning for emerald, peridot, tanzanite, turquoise, topaz, moonstone, tourmaline and zircon, and recommends warm, soapy water as the safest method for opal. A few examples in GIA's words:
- Emerald: "Never put an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner, as the vibrations and heat can cause the filler to sweat out of fractures."
- Peridot: "Never use a steam or ultrasonic cleaner, as your peridot birthstone is vulnerable to thermal shock."
- Tanzanite: "Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are never recommended for tanzanite."
This matters when you bring jewelry in. Our professional cleaning uses ultrasonic and steam cleaning, which is ideal for diamonds and gold. If a piece has a colored stone, tell us which one before it is cleaned. At home, warm water, a little mild dish soap and a very soft toothbrush are safe for every stone in the chart.
What does "lab-created birthstone" have to mean?
Most of these gems can also be made in a lab, and that is allowed, as long as you are told. The FTC's Jewelry Guides say a gem name, or the word "birthstone" itself, may not describe a lab-made stone "unless such word or name is immediately preceded with equal conspicuousness by the word "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," "[manufacturer name]-created," or some other word or phrase of like meaning" (16 CFR 23.25). So "lab-created ruby birthstone ring" is honest labeling; "ruby birthstone ring" for a lab stone is not.
Birthstone jewelry for mom or grandma
A piece that combines the birthstones of children or grandchildren is a custom design job: we start from how it will be worn and which stones are involved, show you a 3D CAD model you can adjust, then cast, finish and set it. Allow three to five weeks for a straightforward piece. If the family already owns a stone, resetting it is one of our most common requests.
April birthdays: lab-grown diamond gifts
April's stone is the one our catalog is built around. Popular April gifts include lab-grown diamond studs, 2.00 ct TW ($949.99) and the M Pendant, 0.45 ct lab-grown diamond ($849.99), as listed on October 21, 2026. See all necklaces and pendants, or read which gem goes with which year in our anniversary guide.
