Alternative Birthstones for January to June: Unique Jewelry Ideas

When people think of birthstones, they often picture diamonds for April, emeralds for May, or sapphires for September. While these well-known gems are popular choices, they’re far from the only options available. The truth is that many months have multiple birthstones and there are other lesser-known alternatives that can make your jewelry more personal and unique.

Of course there’s absolutely nothing wrong with loving the traditional birthstone for your month, but if you’re looking for a less traditional way to customize your jewelry, you’ve come to the right place. We’re about to explore the lesser-known alternative birthstones for January through June—let’s see if any of them catch your eye.

January – Garnet

You might be thinking, “But garnet is the traditional January birthstone.” And you’d be right—specifically, the deep red rhodolite garnet is the recognized stone. What many don’t realize, however, is that garnets come in a wide range of colors.

One of the standout colors is the green garnet, more commonly known as tsavorite. It is a rich grassy green color with brilliant sparkle. Green garnets are fairly rare, so they can fetch quite the high price tag in larger sizes. Tsavorites are a 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so while they are fairly durable, it’s best to set them in protective settings to avoid damage. They are most often available in smaller sizes and used as accent stones–as opposed to the main gemstone in a piece of jewelry.

We also love the spessartite garnet, which ranges from fiery orange to reddish-orange.

February – Quartz 

Amethyst, a variety of quartz, is the traditional birthstone for February, but there are many other varieties of quartz to consider if you’re on the hunt for something different. One of our favorites is prasiolite, which is a green stone that is sometimes referred to as green amethyst. It has a soft green hue and looks great with both yellow and white metals.

Another really fun option is ametrine. It is a blend of amethyst and citrine, which gives the stone a beautiful transition of purple to orange. It’s unique and looks gorgeous with yellow gold. 

March – Beryl

Aquamarine–a variety of beryl–is the traditional choice for March. Yet there are so many alternative options to consider. For example, heliodor is a yellow variety of beryl offering a great warm tone that looks lovely when paired with yellow gold. If you’re looking for something a little more romantic, morganite is another variety of beryl that is very popular due to its soft pink color and ability to pair with almost any metal color seamlessly. 

April – White Topaz and Fancy Diamonds

Those who are born in April consider themselves lucky to have diamonds as their birthstone, but it’s not the only option. If you want to stick with the traditional choice, diamonds come in many different fancy color options such as red, pink, blue, green, orange, and salt and pepper. If you’re searching for a more affordable alternative to a traditional diamond, consider white topaz or white sapphire. Both offer a similar sparkle at a fraction of the cost. 

May – Beryl and Green Onyx

Emerald, a variety of beryl, is the traditional birthstone for May, but it is also among the most expensive and fragile gemstones. Because of this, you could consider another variety of beryl (similar to our recommendations for March birthstones). If you want to stay in the same color family as emerald, green onyx is a wonderful choice because it has a similar color but is significantly less expensive than emerald. Another green option is chrysoprase, which is a variety of chalcedony that is a lighter green color and is often cut into cabochons. 

June – Pearl, Moonstone, and Alexandrite

June has several different gemstones to choose from. We wouldn’t necessarily encourage you to stray from the traditional options of pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite. They are all so unique and gorgeous that there’s no need to look elsewhere. 

A pearl is a gemstone formed inside oysters or mussels when an irritant, such as a grain of sand or shell, enters the mollusk. To protect itself, the mollusk coats the object in layers of nacre, eventually creating a pearl. This natural process produces a gem that’s beautiful in its raw form, without the need for cutting or polishing. Pearls can form naturally in the wild or be cultivated with human assistance. Most pearls on the market today are cultured due to the rarity of natural ones.

There are several main types of cultured pearls, each with distinct qualities. Akoya pearls–mostly grown in Japan and China–are the classic white, round pearls often used in traditional necklaces. Freshwater pearls, grown in lakes and rivers, are more affordable and come in a variety of colors and shapes. Tahitian pearls are prized for their dark gray to green hues. South Sea pearls, among the largest and most valuable, are found in white or golden shades. Keshi pearls form as irregular, all-nacre creations with exceptional luster.

Moonstone is part of the feldspar family of minerals. It doesn’t have the flash of rainbow colors like opal. Instead it glows with a soft, floating light called adularescence that is blue or white and moves across the stone as the light source changes. Moonstone is mined in Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, and Myanmar. The most valuable moonstones are almost transparent with a blue glow, though they are also found in peach and brown tones. There's also the rainbow moonstone, which is actually a labradorite and has a wider range of color flashes such as blue, purple, and yellow.

One of the best-known rare gemstones, Alexandrite is especially prized for its remarkable ability to change color depending on the lighting. The chromium present in Alexandrite causes the stone to change from an emerald green color in natural daylight to a ruby red or purple color when in incandescent lighting. Alexandrite was originally discovered in 1830 in Russia’s Ural Mountains and was named after the future Russian Tsar Alexander II. Today it is mined in Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe. Alexandrite has a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale, making it durable enough for use in jewelry. However, because natural Alexandrites are so rare, they aren’t commonly seen in everyday jewelry pieces.

Final Thoughts

Exploring lesser-known birthstones from January through June gives you a much wider variety of options to choose from for your next birthstone jewelry. Whether it’s the vibrant green of tsavorite garnet, the captivating blend of ametrine, or the sunny yellow of heliodor, these alternative options offer new ways to celebrate your birth month in style.