The Complete Guide to Birthstone Jewellery: What Every Stone Means and How to Wear It

A birthstone is one of the oldest personal gifts there is: a single gem chosen for the exact month you arrived in the world, carrying its own colour and meaning long before anyone thought to write it down. At Flutterby, birthstone jewellery has become one of our most loved collections, particularly among our birthstone jewellery in the UK customers, whether that means gold birthstone jewellery for your own birthday or personalised birthstone jewellery chosen for someone else. 

Below you’ll find all twelve months in one place: the traditional stone, the stone Flutterby uses, its meaning, and how to wear it. Our full range lives in the Birthstone Jewellery collection, gift wrapped as standard.

A quick note before the months. Not every traditional birthstone is practical for everyday wear, some are simply too soft, which is why certain stones appear only in birthstone huggie earrings or studs at Flutterby, never bracelets or rings that take daily knocks. This comes down to hardness, measured on the Mohs scale. Our guide to the Mohs scale explains it properly.

Birthstone Reference Table

How We at Flutterby Choose Birthstones

Diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald are precious gems that simply do not suit jewellery worn every day at an accessible price. So we use honest alternatives instead: quartz versions of ruby, emerald and sapphire, white topaz or crystal in place of diamond, blue topaz alongside aquamarine. Each one captures the colour and character of the original, in a piece built for real life. Every setting is 925 sterling silver or gold vermeil, never base metal.

January Birthstone: Garnet

January belongs to garnet, and at Flutterby we've stayed true to the traditional birthstone. Its rich, wine-red colour has been loved for centuries and is often linked with love, protection and enduring energy. Set against warm gold vermeil, garnet feels timeless and effortlessly wearable, making it a thoughtful gift for a January birthday. You'll find it in our Garnet Birthstone Huggie Earrings. 

February Birthstone: Amethyst

February's birthstone is amethyst, and it's the gemstone we've chosen at Flutterby too. Loved for its soft violet tones, amethyst has long been associated with calm, clarity and balance. It brings a gentle pop of colour that works beautifully with both gold and silver, making it an easy choice for everyday wear. Discover our amethyst birthstone huggies and add a meaningful touch to your jewellery collection. 

March Birthstone: Blue Topaz

March's traditional birthstone is aquamarine, but at Flutterby, we celebrate the month with blue topaz quartz, a beautiful modern alternative that shares the same fresh, water-blue tones. Ranging from pale sky blue to richer shades, blue topaz is associated with courage, serenity and good health, reflecting the calm clarity of spring water. It's one of our standout collections for March birthdays, whether you're looking for everyday sparkle or a thoughtful gift. Explore our Petal Blue Topaz Drop Earrings and Kiera Blue Topaz Drop Earrings to find a piece they'll treasure.

April Birthstone: White Topaz or Crystal

Diamond has long been April's traditional birthstone, but at Flutterby we've chosen white topaz and crystal for their beautiful sparkle and everyday wearability. Both reflect the light beautifully, capturing the fresh, bright feel of spring without compromising on elegance. If you're celebrating an April birthday, you'll find plenty to love in our White Topaz and Crystal Birthstone Huggie Earrings.

May Birthstone: Emerald Quartz

May's birthstone has always been emerald, a rich green gemstone that perfectly reflects the freshness of late spring. At Flutterby, we use emerald quartz to capture that same vibrant colour in jewellery designed to be worn every day. Symbolising growth, renewal and abundance, it's a lovely choice for a meaningful birthday gift. Explore our Emerald Quartz Birthstone Huggie Earrings or our Green Onyx Gold Hoop Earrings for another beautiful green gemstone.

June Birthstone: Pearl

June is one of the few months with three traditional birthstones, though pearl remains the most timeless of them all. At Flutterby, we use freshwater pearls throughout our collection, celebrating their natural beauty and soft lustre. As the only organic gemstone, pearl has long been associated with intuition, purity and emotional balance. Browse our Gold Pearl Huggie Earrings, Helena Pearl collection and Pearl Birthstone Stud Earrings.

July Birthstone: Ruby Quartz

Ruby has always been July's traditional birthstone, admired for its rich red colour and associations with love, courage and vitality. At Flutterby, we've chosen ruby quartz, bringing that same vibrant warmth to jewellery you'll enjoy wearing every day. It's one of the most striking birthstones of the year and makes a thoughtful gift with lasting meaning. Discover our Ruby Quartz Birthstone Huggie Earrings.

August Birthstone: Peridot

With its unmistakable lime-green colour, peridot is one of the easiest birthstones to recognise. It's also both the traditional August birthstone and the one we use at Flutterby. Long associated with happiness, healing and positive energy, peridot adds a fresh pop of colour to any jewellery collection. Browse our Peridot Gold Hoop Earrings, Gold Peridot Necklace, Birthstone Huggie Earrings and Birthstone Stud Earrings.

September Birthstone: Sapphire Quartz

September has long been linked with sapphire, a gemstone loved for its deep blue colour and timeless elegance. At Flutterby, we've chosen sapphire quartz, offering the same rich tones in jewellery that's easy to wear every day. Representing wisdom, loyalty and truth, it's a fitting choice for a season of fresh beginnings. Explore our Sapphire Quartz Birthstone Huggie Earrings.

October Birthstone: Pink Tourmaline

October is one of the few months with two traditional birthstones, and at Flutterby we've chosen a pink tourmaline. Its warm rosy tones are often associated with hope, compassion and creativity, making it a meaningful stone as well as a beautiful one. Elegant enough for every day, it's an easy piece to wear throughout the seasons. You'll find it in our Pink Tourmaline Birthstone Huggie Earrings.

November Birthstone: Citrine

November is traditionally represented by both topaz and citrine, and we've chosen citrine for its warm honey-gold glow. Often associated with joy, abundance and positivity, it pairs beautifully with gold vermeil and feels especially fitting through the autumn months. Whether you're buying a birthday gift or treating yourself, our Citrine Birthstone Huggie Earrings  is a lovely place to start.

December Birthstone: Turquoise or Tanzanite

December offers more birthstone choices than any other month, and at Flutterby we've chosen both turquoise and tanzanite. Turquoise is loved for its bright blue-green tones and long-standing links with friendship and protection, while tanzanite's rich violet-blue hues symbolise transformation and new beginnings. Explore our Turquoise and Tanzanite Birthstone Huggie Earrings, Enamel Turquoise Huggies, or Mojave Turquoise Hoop Earrings.

Birthstone Stud

As a perfect nod to birthstone gems, we also sell a range of coloured stone studs. At a very affordable price, these studs set in gold plated sterling silver give you a full range of birthstone colours which look fabulous in first and second piercings.

How to Wear Your Birthstone

Your own birth month makes a quiet, personal signature: a stud in the second hole and a huggie in the first. Plenty of our customers layer several birth months together in one ear, a mother wearing all of her children's stones side by side. Pair a birthstone huggie with a plain gold hoop for easy everyday wear, or use it as a layering anchor with a simple chain necklace.

Birthstone Jewellery as a Gift

Few gifts feel as personal as a birthstone, showing real thought rather than a last-minute choice. It suits birthdays, anniversaries, new baby milestones, and 18th or 21st birthdays. For multi-piece gifting, Sal and Lu's personal shopper service can help confirm which stone belongs to whom. Every order arrives with a free handwritten note and gift box, ready to give.

Final Thoughts

Birthstone jewellery bridges history and something more personal than most gifts manage. Whichever month you are shopping for, our Birthstone Jewellery collection has a piece designed for that person.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know what my birthstone is?

Check the reference table above for the modern list. Some months, like June, October and December, have more than one recognised stone, so you may have a choice.

2. Can I wear a birthstone that is not my own birth month?

Absolutely. Plenty of our customers choose a stone purely for its colour or meaning rather than the month on their birth certificate.

3. Is birthstone jewellery a good gift for someone whose taste you do not know well?

Yes, it is a thoughtful, low-risk choice that signals real effort without needing you to know their exact style.

4. Why does Flutterby use quartz versions of stones like ruby, emerald and sapphire rather than the real thing?

Precious gems are too costly for daily wear jewellery at an accessible price. We love to offer quartz alternatives that capture the same colour affordably.

5. Can I wear my birthstone jewellery every day?

Most pieces are designed with daily wear in mind, though hardness varies by stone. Our Mohs scale guide explains which stones hold up best.

6. What if my birth month has more than one traditional birthstone?

Several months do. Flutterby has chosen the version we feel wears best day to day, but you are free to choose whichever stone speaks to you.