Alternative Birthstones for July to December: Unique Jewelry Ideas

When most people think of birthstones, they picture rubies for July, diamonds for April, or turquoise for December. These iconic gemstones are undeniably beautiful and popular, but they’re not the only options available. Several months of the year actually have multiple birthstones associated with them, and there are also lesser-known alternatives that can make your jewelry feel more personal, unique, and tailored to your style.

Choosing the traditional birthstone for your month is always a great option, but if you’re interested in something a bit different, this guide is for you. Let’s take a look at the lesser-known alternative birthstones for July through December and see which ones might capture your attention.

July – Spinel and Garnet

Ruby is the traditional birthstone for July, and is also one of the most popular colored gemstones in general. Rubies have long been associated with love, passion, and power, which adds to their enduring appeal.

Because high-quality rubies are rare, they can be quite expensive, especially in larger sizes with vivid color and minimal inclusions. When shopping for a ruby, it’s important to purchase from a reputable jeweler and to ensure the stone comes with a grading certificate from a recognized laboratory. This guarantees not only authenticity but also provides important details about the ruby’s color, clarity, and overall quality. This allows you to make a confident and informed purchase.

Spinel is a great alternative option. It can often be confused for ruby, and most famously has been in many pieces of royal jewelry. Spinel can be similar in color to ruby, but can also have pink and orange hues. It is usually free of large inclusions and has a lower refractive index than ruby. It’s highly affordable and ranks 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it durable enough for everyday wear. All of these factors combined make spinel a great, budget-friendly and beautiful choice for colored gemstone jewelry. 

Another stone that is similar in color to ruby is rhodolite garnet. Garnets can vary in color from dark red to purple-red. They're usually free of inclusions, making their color stand out even more. Depending on their color, they can belong to several different mineral types, such as almandine or pyrope. Garnets are a 6.5 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which makes them fairly soft. This means they're not ideal for everyday wear, as they are prone to scratches.

August – Spinel

The birthstone for August is peridot, but if you’re not a big fan of this stone, there are some great alternatives.

Green spinel is a vibrant yet often overlooked gemstone that serves as a stunning alternative to other green stones like emerald. Its color ranges from soft mint to deep forest green, and it is typically very clear and free of inclusions, giving it exceptional sparkle. Green spinel ranks 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it perfect for everyday jewelry like rings or bracelets. It’s relatively rare and mined mostly in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. It looks great when paired with both yellow and white metals. 

September – Sapphire

September is much like July in that we don’t recommend straying from the traditional birthstone, sapphire. With its wide range of colors and versatility, it’s a choice you really can’t go wrong with.

Blue is the most popular color for sapphire, but it is also available in many other colors including purple, pink, orange, and yellow. Shapphires are a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making them perfect for everyday wear jewelry. They can have inclusions, but the higher quality sapphires will have little to none visible with the naked eye. Pricing on sapphires can vary greatly depending upon their color, size, and quality, so it’s best to purchase them from a trusted jeweler and ask that they have a grading certificate from a reputable lab.

The best known color is blue sapphire, ranging from light to deep blue. It's often associated with loyalty and wisdom. Pink sapphires are romantic and feminine, while yellow sapphires evoke joy. Padparadscha sapphires are very rare, featuring a unique blend of pink and orange, while purple sapphires range from lavender to deep violet. Green sapphires bring thoughts of nature and renewal. White sapphires are colorless and an affordable alternative to diamonds. Meanwhile, black sapphires range from gray to jet black, and are a great alternative to black diamonds. Color changing sapphires are even more rare and usually change from blue to violet in different types of lighting due to the vanadium that is present in the stones.

Originally discovered in Sri Lanka, sapphires are mined in a variety of places throughout the world including Australia, Madagascar, and Montana. With such a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires remain the best choice for the September birthstone. 

October – Pink Zircon

October has two traditional birthstones, opal and tourmaline. Opals are gemstones formed from hydrated silica, composed of tiny silica spheres that trap water and scatter light to create a mesmerizing rainbow effect known as play of color. Two popular varieties are Mexican fire opals and Australian opals. 

Tourmalines are available in a wide variety of colors, including green, blue, purple, red, and pink.  It ranks a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it suitable for frequent wear—but it should be worn with care to avoid scratching or damage.

If you’re interested in an alternative gemstone for October, pink zircon is an unusual choice. When someone mentions zircon, you probably think of a bright blue gemstone that looks like clear ocean water. But zircon is also available in other colors, such as pink. If cut well, zircon can sparkle beautifully, giving it an almost glittery look. With a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, it’s less than ideal for everyday wear, as it can be more easily scratched or chipped compared to harder gemstones. Fairly affordable, zircon makes a gorgeous piece of jewelry that can be worn with care. 

November – Andalusite

White citrine and topaz are the usual birthstones for November, but there’s a fun alternative: Andalusite. Andalusite is prized for its remarkable pleochroism, displaying different colors—typically green, gold, and reddish-brown—depending on the viewing angle. It is a 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so it’s suitable for everyday jewelry.

December – Larimar

December has very diverse traditional birthstones with turquoise, tanzanite, and blue zircon. However, Larimar, a rare blue gemstone found only in the Dominican Republic, is a nice alternative. It has ocean-patterned blue hues that make for very relaxed-feeling jewelry. It’s a 4.5 - 5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so we recommend wearing this gemstone with extreme care to avoid damage. 

Final Thoughts

Exploring the lesser-known birthstones from July through December reveals many more options for each month. These include everything from the vibrant green spinel and rhodolite garnet of July to the rare padparadscha and colorful sapphires of September. Traditional birthstones will always have their place, but choosing a unique option opens up opportunities for creativity and expressing your personality.