Birthstone Engagement Rings by Month: Which Birthstones Last? (2026 Guide)
A birthstone engagement ring puts a stone with personal meaning at the center, instead of a default diamond. The catch: not every birthstone is hard enough for a ring worn every day. Here is every month's birthstone, how durable it is, and how to wear it in an engagement ring, with real Giliarto designs for each.
Quick answer: which birthstones make the best engagement rings?
The best birthstones for an everyday engagement ring are April (diamond, 10), July (ruby, 9), September (sapphire, 9) and June (alexandrite, 8.5). March (aquamarine), May (emerald), August (spinel) and November (topaz) work well in a protective setting. Softer stones such as opal, pearl, moonstone and turquoise are better as accents or for occasional wear.
Birthstones by month at a glance
| Month | Birthstone | Color | Mohs hardness | Everyday engagement ring? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red | 7 to 7.5 | Good |
| February | Amethyst | Purple | 7 | Good, with care |
| March | Aquamarine | Pale to medium blue | 7.5 to 8 | Good |
| April | Diamond | Colorless | 10 | Excellent |
| May | Emerald | Green | 7.5 to 8 | Good, with care |
| June | Alexandrite, moonstone, pearl | Color-change; white glow; white | 8.5 / 6 to 6.5 / 2.5 to 4.5 | Alexandrite excellent |
| July | Ruby | Red | 9 | Excellent |
| August | Peridot, spinel | Lime green; many colors | 6.5 to 7 / 8 | Spinel very good |
| September | Sapphire | Blue and most colors | 9 | Excellent |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Play of color; pink and green | 5.5 to 6.5 / 7 to 7.5 | Tourmaline good |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Golden, blue; yellow | 8 / 7 | Good |
| December | Tanzanite, blue topaz, zircon, turquoise | Violet-blue; blue | 6 to 7 / 8 / 6 to 7.5 / 5 to 6 | Blue topaz good |
Hardness is on the Mohs scale of 1 to 10. Everyday dust contains quartz (7), so stones below 7 slowly scratch and lose their polish. For more detail, see our colored gemstone durability guide.
Birthstone engagement rings, month by month
January: Garnet
Garnet is a family of minerals; pyrope and almandine give the classic deep red, and rhodolite a raspberry pink. At 7 to 7.5 it handles daily wear with normal care, and it is rarely treated.
Shop: Red Garnet Celtic Engagement Ring (Model 33-6), from $1,210. Browse all garnet rings, or read our January birthstone guide.
February: Amethyst
Amethyst is purple quartz, from pale lilac to deep royal purple. At 7 it is durable enough for an engagement ring worn with some care, and large stones stay affordable.
Shop: 3 Carat Emerald Cut Amethyst Ring (Model 1017-9x7), from $950; 4 Carat Pear Amethyst Hidden Halo Ring (Model 432-12x8), from $1,050. Browse all amethyst engagement rings, or read our February birthstone guide.
March: Aquamarine
Aquamarine is the sea-blue variety of beryl, usually very clean, with an icy pale to medium blue color. At 7.5 to 8 it is a good everyday choice in a halo or bezel setting.
Shop: 2 Carat Emerald Cut Natural Aquamarine Halo Ring Set, from $1,850. Browse all aquamarine engagement rings, or read our March birthstone guide.
April: Diamond
Diamond is the hardest gemstone (10) and the traditional engagement stone, so April birthdays get the easiest choice. A lab-grown diamond is real diamond with the same hardness and sparkle, at a lower price.
Shop: 2 Carat Three Stone Portuguese Cut Lab-Grown Diamond Ring, from $3,500. Browse all lab diamond engagement rings, or read our April birthstone guide.
May: Emerald
Emerald is green beryl. It is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, but natural inclusions make it more brittle than its hardness suggests. Choose a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaners.
Shop: 3 Carat Emerald Cut Emerald Ring (Model 733-9x7), from $950. Browse all emerald engagement rings, or read our May birthstone guide.
June: Alexandrite, Moonstone and Pearl
June has three birthstones. Alexandrite is the standout for a ring: hard (8.5), tough, and it changes from teal-green in daylight to purple-red under warm light. Moonstone (6 to 6.5) has a soft blue glow and suits a protective setting. Pearl (2.5 to 4.5) is too soft for an everyday center stone.
Shop: 3 Carat Emerald Cut Lab-Grown Alexandrite Halo Ring Set, from $1,450; Oval Moonstone Vintage Two Ring Set, from $950. Browse all alexandrite engagement rings and moonstone engagement rings, or read our June birthstone guide.
July: Ruby
Ruby is red corundum, the same mineral as sapphire, and at 9 it is one of the toughest stones you can wear every day. Its color symbolizes passion and commitment.
Shop: 4 Carat Oval Ruby Hidden Halo Ring in Rose Gold (Model 581-12x8), from $2,118. Browse all ruby engagement rings, or read our July birthstone guide.
August: Peridot and Spinel
Peridot is a bright lime green at 6.5 to 7, so it needs a protective setting and some care. Spinel, added as an August birthstone in 2016, is the stronger ring choice: 8 on the Mohs scale, no cleavage, and often untreated. It comes in red, pink, blue and a cool natural gray.
Shop: 4 Carat Kite Peridot Halo Ring Set, from $2,915; 2 Carat Round Gray Natural Spinel Floral Ring, from $850. Browse all gray spinel engagement rings, or read our August birthstone guide.
September: Sapphire
Sapphire (9) is the most practical colored stone for an engagement ring. Royal blue is the classic, but sapphire also comes in lavender, teal, yellow, peach and pink, so September birthdays have the widest choice of colors.
Shop: 2 Carat Royal Blue Sapphire Ring (Model 19), from $850. Browse all sapphire engagement rings, or read our September birthstone guide.
October: Opal and Tourmaline
Opal (5.5 to 6.5) shows a rainbow play of color but is soft and sensitive to knocks and heat, so it suits a halo or bezel and careful wear. Tourmaline (7 to 7.5), in pink and green, is the more durable October choice.
Shop: 2.5 Carat Kite Natural White Opal Halo Ring Set, from $2,847; Pink Tourmaline and Diamond Crown Ring, from $1,250. Browse all opal rings, or read our October birthstone guide.
November: Topaz and Citrine
Golden topaz (8) is hard but can split along its cleavage plane if struck, so a halo protects it. Citrine is golden-yellow quartz (7), warm and affordable in large sizes.
Shop: 2 Carat Oval Citrine Victorian Halo Ring (Model 1391), from $850. Browse all citrine engagement rings, or read our November birthstone guide.
December: Tanzanite, Blue Topaz, Zircon and Turquoise
Tanzanite (6 to 7) is a rich violet-blue found only in Tanzania; it is beautiful but needs a protective setting. Blue topaz (8) is the most durable December stone, and London blue topaz gives a deep, inky blue. Turquoise is too soft for an everyday center stone.
Shop: 2 Carat Princess Cut Natural Tanzanite Halo Ring, from $3,150; 3 Carat Oval London Blue Topaz Vintage Halo Ring, from $950. Browse all tanzanite engagement rings and blue topaz engagement rings, or read our December birthstone guide.
How to wear a softer birthstone in an engagement ring
- Choose a protective setting: a halo or bezel shields the edges of opal, moonstone, tanzanite and peridot.
- Use it as an accent: set a soft birthstone as side stones next to a harder center, or inside the band.
- Pick a lower profile: a stone that sits closer to the finger gets knocked less.
- Take it off: remove the ring for the gym, gardening and cleaning.
Which metal goes with your birthstone?
White gold, platinum and palladium keep cool stones like aquamarine, sapphire, tanzanite and spinel crisp. Yellow gold warms up citrine, topaz, garnet and peridot. Rose gold flatters morganite, ruby and opal. Most Giliarto designs come in sterling silver, 10K, 14K or 18K white, rose or yellow gold, platinum or palladium, so you can pick the metal on the ring you like.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best birthstone for an engagement ring?
Diamond (April), sapphire (September), ruby (July) and alexandrite (June) are the most durable. All are 8.5 or harder on the Mohs scale.
Is it bad luck to use a birthstone as an engagement ring?
No. Birthstone rings are a popular way to make a ring personal. Choose a durable stone, or protect a softer one with a halo or bezel setting.
Which birthstones are too soft for an everyday engagement ring?
Pearl, opal, turquoise and moonstone are the softest. They are best as accents, in a protective setting, or for occasional wear.
Can I combine two birthstones in one ring?
Yes. A two-stone or toi et moi ring, or a center stone with the partner's birthstone as side stones, is a popular way to include both. Contact us to customize any design.
Are lab-grown birthstones real?
Yes. Lab-grown diamond, sapphire, ruby and alexandrite have the same chemistry and hardness as mined stones; only their origin differs.
Looking for a color rather than a month? See our rose-colored gemstones list and lavender gemstones guide.
Prices shown are starting prices as of November 2026. Giliarto is a made-to-order fine jewelry brand founded in 2017 in Pennsylvania, specializing in lab-grown diamonds and colored gemstones set in recycled gold.
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