Alternative Birthstones

Birthstone Options

Choose stones associated with zodiacal signs or symbolic of angels based on your birth month. You can even forgo your birth month and pick a gem associated with the day of the week, hour, or season of your birth.

What Alternative Birthstones are Based on the Signs of the Zodiac?

Note: the dates for the zodiac signs are tropical dates.

In the 19th century, the term chrysolite referred to yellow-green chrysoberyl as well as peridot and prehnite gems. However, that name is no longer used. (Chrysoberyl, peridot, and prehnite are all distinct gem species).

What Alternative Birthstones are Associated with Guardian Angels?

The ancient term carbuncle refers to any red gem. Historically, stones referred to as carbuncles were likely red garnets.

Jacinth was likely either a transparent, reddish brown zircon or hessonite garnet, although the term sometimes referred to blue stones, too.

What Alternative Birthstones are Associated with the Names of the Apostles?

If you share a name with one of the twelve apostles, this list may interest you. During the Middle Ages, many scholars associated each apostle with a gemstone. (Judas was replaced by Paul, who wasn't one of the original twelve). Not surprisingly, different writers made different connections. Below, you'll find one such list. Note, these choices have no connection to date or time of birth.

Sardonyx is a variety of chalcedony with white and reddish, brownish, or yellow layers.

What Alternative Birthstones are Based on Birth Hour?

Jade can refer to two different gem materials: jadeite and nephrite. Historically, both of these gemstones have been called jade.

Magnetic lodestone is a variety of magnetite.

What Alternative Birthstones are Based on the Day of the Week of Birth?

In this system, each day of the week offers at least two choices. Phenomenal gemstones can show spectacular optical effects, like a cat's eye or color change effect.

Rock crystal is colorless quartz.

Many gemstones can show a cat's eye effect, including tourmalines, diopsides, and beryls. However, gemologists reserve the name "cat's eye" for chrysoberyls that show this effect. You can choose any gem with a cat's eye effect you like.

What Alternative Birthstones are Associated with Seasons?

Perfect for those who really want to pick from the "Big Four" gemstones.

Birthstone Advice

Feeling overwhelmed by the options? Maybe this makes it easier to understand why superstitious attachments to gems gave way to a more scientific approach. You could just appreciate gemstones for their physical and optical properties or simply their beauty.

What to learn more about the gemology behind birthstones? Try this birthstone quiz.

However, many people still feel a strong mystical connection to gems. If you do, surely in the lists above you can find a birthstone that corresponds to you and feels right. You and your choice will likely withstand this happy little arena of birthstone madness.