Wondering what your birthstone is? These are the birthstones by month: garnet (January), amethyst (February), aquamarine (March), diamond (April), emerald (May), alexandrite (June), ruby (July), peridot (August), sapphire (September), tourmaline (October), citrine (November), and tanzanite (December).
Some months also have alternative and/or traditional stones. Click on any month name in the chart below to learn about its birthstones and get inspiration for your next piece of birthstone jewelry!
| MONTH | MODERN | TRADITIONAL |
| January | Garnet | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine | Bloodstone |
| April | Diamond | Diamond |
| May | Emerald | Emerald |
| June | Alexandrite | Pearl |
| July | Ruby | Ruby |
| August | Peridot Spinel | Sardonyx |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| October | Tourmaline | Opal |
| November | Citrine | Topaz |
| December | Tanzanite Blue Zircon Blue Topaz | Turquoise Lapis Lazuli |
Birthstones by Month
January Birthstone: Garnet
Properties: Garnet is a silicate mineral group of several related species of lustrous gemstones, which range from transparent to opaque. Garnet has a reasonably tough Mohs hardness rating of around 7.
Colors: While the most common color for garnet is red, you can find garnets in almost any color. Blue garnets, the rarest, were discovered in the 1990s.
Rarity: Most garnet species are not rare. Some notable exceptions are tsavorite and demantoid green garnets.
Name: The name garnet possibly derives from the Latin pomum granatum, meaning “pomegranate”, in reference to the fruit’s red seeds.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Garnet was believed to protect against disease and injury in various cultures throughout history. It was also thought to bring its wearer courage, passion, and creativity.
1 Carat Garnet Price: Garnet can cost from under $100 for a 1 carat stone, up to over $4,000. It depends on the species, color, clarity, and rarity of each garnet gem.
February Birthstone: Amethyst
Properties: Amethyst is a translucent to transparent variety of quartz. Its Mohs hardness of 7, strong crystal structure, and vitreous shine make it ideal for jewelry.
Colors: Amethyst is the most popular purple gemstone. Its purple color results from iron impurities, and ranges from cool bluish-purple to warm reddish-purple.
Rarity: In general, amethysts are not very rare. However, amethyst stones that exhibit a rich purple color are harder to come by than those with a paler, more pastel color.
Name: The name amethyst comes from the Greek word amethystos, meaning “not intoxicated”. Ancient Greeks believed that amethysts could protect against drunkenness.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Early Christians associated amethyst with Christ, calmness, and purity of spirit. In the European Middle Ages, amethyst was a symbol of royalty.
1 Carat Amethyst Price: A 1 carat amethyst can sell from between $10 and $125. Gems with the strongest color saturation occupy the higher end of this price spectrum.
March Birthstones: Aquamarine and Bloodstone
Aquamarine (Modern)
Properties: Aquamarine is a variety of the mineral beryl with a vitreous luster and a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8. It often exhibits high clarity, with few to no inclusions.
Colors: Blue, green, or bluish-green, typically with a pale, delicate hue. While darker gems do exist naturally, most vividly-colored aquamarine results from heat treatment (applying heat to a gemstone to change its color).
Rarity: Aquamarine is one of the more abundant gemstones. The rarest and most prized specimens, called Santa Maria aquamarine, are a richly saturated seawater blue.
Name: Aquamarine is named after the color of the sea. The word itself descends from the Latin aqua marina, meaning “sea water”.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Ancient Romans held that aquamarine could calm rough waves, keep sailors safe at sea, and bring luck to fishermen. Pliny the Elder believed aquamarine gems had once belonged to mermaids.
1 Carat Aquamarine Price: An aquamarine’s value depends on various factors, mainly its color. Per carat, lower end gems start at $5, while top quality aquamarine can sell for $600.
Bloodstone (Traditional)
Properties: Bloodstone is formed from opaque green jasper with spots of red hematite. It has a Mohs hardness of 6.5-7 and is lustrous when polished.
Colors: Bloodstones are always green with red or orange spots. The most desirable stones are vivid dark green generously flecked with deep red.
Rarity: Bloodstone is not rare, which is reflected in its relatively low price.
Name: Bloodstone gets its name from its red flecks that resemble drops of blood. Its alternative name, heliotrope, means “plant that turns toward the sun” in Greek, because Ancient Greeks associated bloodstones with sunset.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Ancient Egyptians and Babylonians believed that bloodstone had magical properties, such as the power to heal illnesses or defeat enemies. In Christian legend, the stone’s red flecks symbolize the blood of Christ.
1 Carat Bloodstone Price: Bloodstones rarely come in 1 carat weights. For larger stones, costs generally range from $1.50 to $6 per carat.
April Birthstone: Diamond
Properties: The most famous of the precious stones, known for its superior scintillation (sparkle). Diamond is formed from carbon atoms arranged in a strong lattice, diamond is the only gem with a Mohs hardness of 10 out of 10.
Colors: White diamonds are the most common and well-known. Colored diamonds are more highly prized, especially blues and reds. Other diamond colors include pink, yellow, orange, brown, purple, green, and black.
Rarity: Though often considered very rare (thanks to clever marketing for engagement rings), white diamonds are actually more abundant than rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Colored diamonds are much scarcer.
Name: The word diamond derives from the Greek adamas, meaning “unbreakable”, because diamond is the hardest natural substance on Earth.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Ancient Indians thought that diamonds were created by lightning strikes, while Ancient Romans believed they were tears of the gods. In modern times, diamonds represent love and commitment thanks to their popular use in engagement rings.
1 Carat Diamond Price: The cost of a 1 carat white diamond ranges between $2,000 and $20,000. The major factors that affect pricing are diamond clarity, diamond color, diamond cut, and diamond shape.
May Birthstone: Emerald
Properties: Emerald is a gemstone species of the beryl family and one of the four precious stones. Though transparent, most types of emeralds tend to be highly included. Emerald’s Mohs hardness is 7.5-8.
Colors: All emeralds are green. The most desirable stones are vivid green, or green with a slight blue tint. Yellow tints also occur in emeralds, but have less market appeal.
Rarity: Emeralds are around 20 times rarer than diamonds. Stones with high clarity, strong coloring, and no artificial treatments are the rarest and most valued.
Name: The word emerald traces back to the Greek smaragdos, meaning “green gem”, which itself derives from the Semetic baraq, “to shine”.
Beliefs & Symbolism: In several European cultures, emeralds were thought to promote good eyesight, and by extension, clarity of vision in matters of love, justice, and business. Aztecs believed emerald symbolized the divine quetzal bird.
1 Carat Emerald Price: Depending on quality, emerald can cost from $1 to $100,000 per carat. For a 1 carat emerald, natural color and clarity are the most important factors affecting price.
June Birthstones: Alexandrite and Pearl
Alexandrite (Modern)
Properties: Alexandrite is a form of chrysoberyl famous for its ability to change colors in different lighting conditions. It has a vitreous luster whether transparent or opaque, and a sturdy Mohs hardness of 8.5.
Colors: Though greenish-blue by daylight or fluorescent light, alexandrite appears purplish-red under incandescent light or candlelight. This striking effect is caused by chromium impurities in the gemstone.
Rarity: Alexandrite is extremely rare, especially specimens with more vibrant color. The original Russian supply has been exhausted, though the gem is still mined in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
Name: Folklore has it that alexandrite was named after the then crown prince and future tsar of Russia, Alexander II, because it was discovered on his birthday in 1834.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Despite its relatively short history, alexandrite has become associated with duality and balance in Vedic and Zodiac astrology. It’s also linked in the Tarot to the Lovers card, which represents relationships and choices.
1 Carat Alexandrite Price: A 1 carat alexandrite can retail from between $500 to $20,000. Anything larger than 1 carat costs more, with some large gemstones going for more than $100,000 per carat.
Pearl (Traditional)
Properties: Pearl is an opaque organic gemstone, composed of calcium carbonate from the secretions of mollusks. With a Mohs hardness of 2.5-4.5, pearl is one of the least scratch-resistant gems.
Colors: Pearls come in classic white, as well as variations of pink, purple, green, blue, yellow, and black. Some pearls display overtones of translucent secondary colors and/or a rainbow shimmer.
Rarity: Cultivated pearls are commonly “grown” on freshwater pearl farms. Natural pearls found in the wild are much rarer. The rarest are perfectly round with a high, sharp luster.
Name: The name pearl possibly originates from the Latin word perna, which also means “pearl”.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Pearls have long been linked to wisdom (per the modern phrase, “pearls of wisdom”). In Chinese folklore, pearls were kept in dragons’ teeth, and killing a dragon to take its pearls symbolized gaining wisdom.
Pearl Price: Unlike other gems, pearls are not sold by carat weight but by diameter size (typically between 1mm and 20mm). Prices vary hugely depending on considerations like shape, color, and iridescence. A single pearl can cost from $1 to over $100,000.
July Birthstone: Ruby
Properties: Ruby, another of the four precious stones, is the red gem grade variety of corundum, a crystalline mineral of aluminum oxide. It has a high Mohs hardness of 9 and a vitreous to adamantine luster.
Colors: All types of rubies are red; corundum of any other color is called sapphire. The most prized stones are a vibrant purplish-red, known as pigeon blood rubies. Most rubies are heat treated to enhance their redness.
Name: The name ruby traces back to rubeus, the Latin word for “red”.
Rarity: Fine quality rubies, especially those without heat treatment, are very rare. Rubies aren’t often found in large sizes, making stones over 1 carat weight even rarer.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Ancient Burmese warriors thought rubies would make them invincible in battle. According to Hindu belief, offering rubies to the god Krishna would be rewarded with rebirth as royalty.
1 Carat Ruby Price: A good quality 1 carat ruby costs at least $1,000. Poor grade rubies can be as low as $1 per carat, while the finest stones go for over $100,000 per carat.
August Birthstones: Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx
Peridot (Modern)
Properties: Peridot is a transparent gem variety of the silicate mineral group olivine. It has high double refraction, a glassy luster, and a Mohs hardness of 6.5-7.
Colors: Peridot gems are light green, yellowish-green, or brownish-green. Vibrant green stones are the most favored, but these gems are usually 10+ carats. In smaller sizes, the best color is green with a slight yellow tint.
Rarity: While peridot is not rare in general, large pure green stones are scarce.
Name: The word peridot descends from the Medieval Latin peridotus, which may have referred to peridot and/or to gems of a similar color green. The Arabic faridat, meaning “gemstone”, is another possible etymon.
Beliefs & Symbolism: In Ancient Egypt, peridot was known as “the gem of the sun” and was linked to nature deities. In Hawaiian legend, peridot stones were the tears of the goddess Pele.
1 Carat Peridot Price: Prices for a 1 carat peridot span from $5 to $600. Good quality specimens are between $50 and $500, while top quality gems are more expensive.
Spinel (Modern)
Properties: Spinel is an oxide mineral gemstone with a Mohs hardness of 8 and a vitreous luster. It can be opaque or transparent, and is sometimes fluorescent under UV light.
Colors: Spinel comes in all colors of the rainbow, plus a few more. Red spinels were often mistaken for rubies throughout history, while blues were thought to be sapphires.
Rarity: Red and blue spinels are very rare. In fact, these gems are even rarer than rubies and sapphires. However, they’re much less expensive due to lower market demand.
Name: The word spinel goes back to spina, the Latin for “thorn”, possibly due to the gem’s sharp crystal structure.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Spinels are associated with royalty because impressive specimens were acquired as crown jewels by monarchs who believed they were precious stones. Most famously, the Black Prince’s Ruby, which adorns the United Kingdom’s Imperial State Crown, is actually a 170 carat red spinel.
1 Carat Spinel Price: A 1 carat gem of high grade red or blue spinel sells for around $200 to $500. Other spinel colors are usually more affordable.
Sardonyx (Traditional)
Properties: Sardonyx is formed from sard and onyx, two different types of the silicate mineral chalcedony. It’s translucent to opaque, has a Mohs hardness of 6.5-7, and is known for its layers of alternating colors.
Colors: Sard has an earthy reddish color, while the onyx in sardonyx is usually white. The most ideal specimens have defined layers with contrasting patterns.
Rarity: Though particularly fine specimens can be rare and expensive, most sardonyx gems are readily available and quite affordable.
Name: Sard is named for Sardis, the capital of Ancient Lydia. Onyx comes from the same word in Greek, which originally meant “fingernail”, because the stone’s pinkish-red and white coloring can resemble a human fingernail.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Ancient Greek and Roman soldiers wore sardonyx talismans into battle, believing they could bring their wearer courage and victory. Orators during the Renaissance wore sardonyx products to improve their eloquence.
1 Carat Sardonyx Price: Sardonyx is not typically sold in 1 carat weights. The price per carat stretches between $1 and $500.
September Birthstone: Sapphire
Properties: Sapphire is precious corundum that’s any color except red (which is ruby). Their high luster, Mohs hardness of 9, and attractive colors make sapphires highly desirable.
Colors: Blue sapphires are the most famous and sought-after types of sapphires, especially those that are a vivid velvety blue. Other colors of sapphire include pink, yellow, green, purple, orange, black, and white (colorless).
Rarity: The most valuable sapphires, with intense blue color and high clarity, are very rare. Some other colors, such as salmon-pink padparadscha sapphires, are even rarer.
Name: The name sapphire is taken from sappheiros, a Greek word that may have originally referred to lapis lazuli.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Sapphire was known in Ancient Greece as a stone with powers of oracle and prophecy, and was connected to the god of truth, Apollo.
1 Carat Sapphire Price: Sapphire can cost between $350 to $27,500 per carat for a blue stone, and between $10 to $6,000 for other colors. Factors such as color saturation, clarity, and place of origin greatly affect a sapphire’s price.
October Birthstones: Tourmaline and Opal
Tourmaline (Modern)
Properties: Tourmaline is a group of 32 boron silicate minerals with variable chemical compositions and colors, some of which are prone to inclusions. It’s transparent to translucent with a Mohs hardness of 7-7.5.
Colors: As well as having the widest color range of any gemstone, tourmaline is known for color zoning within its gem material. Most famously, watermelon tourmaline exhibits green “rind” and pink “fruit”.
Rarity: Most types of tourmaline are relatively abundant and readily available in jewelry stores due to their popularity. One notable exception is pairaba tourmaline, a stunning greenish-blue gem which is exceedingly rare.
Name: The word tourmaline is descended from the Sinhalese word toramalli. It means “carnelian”, referring to another gem which can look similar.
Beliefs & Symbolism: According to Egyptian folklore, the reason tourmaline has so many colors is that it collected them from journeying along a rainbow. Some Andean peoples believed that the gem was a conduit to timeless knowledge.
1 Carat Tourmaline Price: Most 1 carat tourmaline gems can be found from $50 to $1,000. Pairaba tourmaline is significantly more expensive.
Opal (Traditional)
Properties: Opal is an opaque to transparent mineraloid of amorphous silica with a rather fragile Mohs hardness of about 5-6. Some opal exhibits play-of-color, a prism-like flashing optical effect. Stones with play-of-color are called precious opal, while those without it are known as common opal.
Colors: Opal forms in many different colors. Multiple colors and color patterns often occur within the same stone.
Rarity: Black is the rarest and most prized color of precious opal. Sought-after colors of common opal include fire opal, which is intense orange-red, and hyalite opal, which can glow green.
Name: The word opal goes back to the Latin opalus, possibly itself originating from the Sanskrit for “precious gemstone”, upala.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Opal was historically linked to vision and sight. An opal wrapped in a bay leaf could supposedly grant invisibility, which led to its nickname of patronus furum, Latin for “patron of thieves”.
1 Carat Opal Price: It depends on color, origin, and other considerations. In general, expect to pay from $10 to $6,000 per carat. Premium grade black opals can go up to $20,000 per carat.
November Birthstones: Citrine and Topaz
Citrine (Modern)
Properties: Citrine refers to crystalline quartz in hues of yellow, orange, red, or brown. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 and a glassy shine when polished. Most citrine gemstones are transparent or translucent.
Colors: Citrine is usually predominantly yellow, with variations including pale yellow, golden yellow, and yellowish orange. Dark orange-red gem material, known as madeira citrine, is the most valuable.
Rarity: Natural citrine is rare. Most citrine sold is actually amethyst, another and more abundant member of the quartz family, that’s been heat treated to change its purple color to yellow.
Name: The name citrine comes from the French word citrin, meaning “lemon-colored”, which itself traces to the Latin citrus, referring to a citrus fruit tree.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians in ancient times considered citrine to have calming and wish-granting properties. It was also thought to make men more attractive and women more fertile.
1 Carat Citrine Price: The price range for a 1 carat faceted citrine gem is about $3 to $140. Darker colored stones are worth more than pale ones.
Topaz (Traditional)
Properties: Topaz is a translucent to transparent gem that most often forms inside igneous rocks. With a Mohs hardness of 8, it’s the hardest known silicate mineral.
Colors: You can find topaz in a wide range of colors. Blue topaz is the most popular. Imperial topaz, with a saturated reddish color, is among the most valuable.
Rarity: White (colorless), yellow, orange, and brown topaz is abundant. Red and pink topaz is rare. Natural blue topaz is also rare, but treated blue topaz (created by heating white topaz to change its color) is not.
Name: The word topaz may come from the Greek topazion, after an island from where the gem was thought to originate. Another possibility is tapas, the Sanskrit for “fire”.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Before modern gemology, yellow, orange, and brown were the only recognized topaz colors. With its yellow gold coloring, topaz was thought to attract gold. It was also linked to health and healing.
1 Carat Topaz Price: Topaz prices vary significantly according to color and quality. A 1 carat gem can cost anywhere between $15 and $1,000.
December Birthstones: Tanzanite, Blue Topaz, Blue Zircon, Turquoise, and Lapis Lazuli
Tanzanite (Modern)
Properties: Tanzanite is gem quality blue zoisite, a silicate mineral with a Mohs hardness of 6.5. Tanzanite is transparent with a vitreous luster and often exhibits high clarity.
Colors: Vanadium impurities in zoisite give tanzanite a blue, violet, or purple color. Most tanzanite displays pleochroism, so a stone can appear blue from one angle and purple from another.
Rarity: Nearly all tanzanite available today is regular zoisite that’s been heat treated to change or enhance its color. Untreated, naturally vivid blue tanzanite is much rarer and sells at a premium.
Name: Tanzanite was named for Tanzania in East Africa, after the gem’s discovery there in the 1960s.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Being long unknown to humans, tanzanite lacks a rich history in myth and folklore. In New Age belief systems, it’s held to promote spiritual exploration and psychic power.
1 Carat Tanzanite Price: For a 1 carat tanzanite stone with good cutting and high clarity, you can expect to pay between $100 to $700, depending on the gem’s quality grade.
Blue Topaz (Modern)
Properties: Blue topaz is the blue variety of the silicate mineral topaz. It’s translucent to transparent with a vitreous shine and a Mohs hardness of 8.
Colors: Blue is the most popular topaz color. It comes in a range of hues from dark to pale blue, the most popular of which are known as Swiss Blue and London Blue.
Rarity: Topaz that’s naturally blue is very rare and expensive. However, nearly all blue topaz sold today is created by heat treating white topaz, which is abundant and affordable.
Name: It was once believed that topaz originated from an island called topazion in Greek. Alternatively, the word may be derived from tapas, the Sanskrit word for “fire”.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Historically, topaz was associated with wealth and healing properties. Blue topaz in particular is considered by some to promote communication and forgiveness.
1 Carat Blue Topaz Price: 1 carat of treated blue topaz will generally cost between $6 and $10. Untreated blue topaz is rarely available and much more expensive.
Blue Zircon (Modern)
Properties: Blue zircon is the blue variety of zircon, a zirconium silicate mineral with a 6-7.5 Mohs hardness. Its high refraction and fiery brilliance make zircon a popular diamond substitute. (Not to be mistaken for cubic zirconia, a type of artificial diamond.)
Colors: Blue is by far the most popular zircon color. Hues range from delicate sky blue to rich greenish-blue. Untreated naturally blue zircon is extremely rare, with some experts claiming it may not exist at all.
Rarity: Although zircon is found all over the globe, gem quality stones are rare.
Name: Zircon’s name derives from the French jargon, used to refer to a diamond-like gem. An earlier precursor may be the Persian zargun, meaning “gold-colored” (as most zircon is naturally yellow, red, or brown).
Beliefs & Symbolism: During the European Middle Ages, it was believed that zircon could avert misfortune, as well as bring wealth, wisdom, and a good night’s sleep.
1 Carat Blue Zircon Price: A 1 carat blue zircon will typically range from $25 to $40 or higher, subject to considerations such as clarity, cut, and color intensity.
Turquoise (Traditional)
Properties: Turquoise, a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum, is an opaque mineral with a waxy luster and a Mohs hardness of 5-6. High quality material forms only in arid regions.
Colors: Along the spectrum of blue to green to yellow. Turquoise often contains dark patches or veins of rock, known as matrix. The most prized stones are matrix-free robin’s egg or sky blue.
Rarity: While low quality turquoise is abundant, only about 10% of mined turquoise is gem quality. Specimens from some depleted mines are extremely scarce and sought-after.
Name: Turquoise was called pierre turqueise, meaning “Turkish stone” in Old French, because it was brought to Europe via Turkestan.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Turquoise was highly valued by the Aztecs, who linked it with the god Quetzalcoatl. Some Native American nations used turquoise for shamanistic or rain-making purposes.
1 Carat Turquoise Price: It depends on the origin, rarity, and quality. Low grade turquoise goes for $1 or less, higher grades range between $2.50 to $50, and superior stones can fetch up to $1,000 per carat.
Lapis Lazuli (Traditional)
Properties: Lapis lazuli is an opaque metamorphic rock comprised of at least 25% blue lazurite with calcite and/or pyrite and various other minerals. Lapis is lustrous when polished and its Mohs hardness is variable.
Colors: Blue is the primary color of lapis. It can display different secondary colors depending on its mineral composition. For example, calcite produces white streaks, while pyrite causes gold speckles.
Rarity: Lapis is an abundant gemstone. The most most desirable stones are deep blue with no visible calcite. Deep blue lapis with small pyrite flecks is also highly valued.
Name: The name lapis lazuli comes from lapis, the Latin for “stone”, and lazuward, the Arabic for “azure”.
Beliefs & Symbolism: Lapis was prized in Bronze Age cultures including Ancient Egypt, Sumer, and Mesopotamia. Its blue color symbolized the sky and heavens, endowing the stone with connotations of divinity and royalty.
1 Carat Lapis Lazuli Price: Lapis is generally inexpensive, with prices starting from below $1 per carat. The highest grade lapis can sell for more than $150 per carat.
Other FAQs About Birthstones
What is the history of birthstones?
The concept of birthstones is thought to have originated from the Bible. The breastplate of the high priest Aaron had twelve stones, each representing a tribe of Israel. This idea was adapted into birthstones, with twelve gemstones representing the twelve birth months of the year.
Why are traditional and modern birthstones sometimes different?
The birthstones by month tend to change every so often as marketing and popularity trends shift. The first modern birthstone list was released in the United States by the National Association of Jewelers in 1912, replacing opaque stones such as bloodstone and sardonyx with clear gems. More recently, spinel was introduced in 2016 as a modern birthstone for August.
What is the rarest birthstone?
While lists of the rarest gemstones are often conflicting, most agree that alexandrite (June birthstone) and tanzanite (December birthstone) are among the rarest gems in the world.
What is the most expensive birthstone?
Colored diamonds are the most expensive birthstones, with some high quality specimens having sold for millions of dollars per carat.
What are the zodiac birthstones?
Some traditions assign birthstones by zodiac sign instead of birth month. The birthstones by astrological sign are:
- Amethyst birthstone for Aquarius
- Aquamarine birthstone for Pisces
- Diamond birthstone for Aries
- Emerald birthstone for Taurus
- Pearl birthstone for Gemini
- Ruby birthstone for Cancer
- Peridot birthstone for Leo
- Sapphire birthstone for Virgo
- Opal birthstone for Libra
- Topaz birthstone for Scorpio
- Turquoise birthstone for Sagittarius
- Garnet birthstone for Capricorn
Ready to learn more about gemstones? Check out our guide to the four precious stones next!