A birthstone ring is one of the most personal pieces of jewelry you can give or wear. Here is what a birthstone ring is, how to choose the right one, and how to build a stack that tells your story.
What is a birthstone ring?
A birthstone ring is a ring set with the gemstone, or a stone in the color, traditionally linked to a person's birth month. January is garnet, May is emerald, December is zircon or blue topaz, and so on. People wear their own birthstone as an everyday piece, or give one to mark a birthday, a new baby, an anniversary or Mother's Day.
Birthstone rings come in many styles: a single solitaire, a band set with small stones, or slim stackable birthstone rings that are made to be worn together.
Birthstones by month
- January: garnet (deep red)
- February: amethyst (purple)
- March: aquamarine (light blue)
- April: diamond (clear)
- May: emerald (green)
- June: alexandrite or pearl
- July: ruby (red)
- August: peridot (lime green)
- September: sapphire (deep blue)
- October: opal or pink tourmaline
- November: topaz or citrine (golden orange)
- December: zircon, blue topaz, turquoise or tanzanite
See the full birthstone chart by month with colors and traditional meanings.
The May birthstone ring
May's birthstone is the emerald, a rich green linked with spring, renewal and growth. A May birthstone ring is a popular gift for May birthdays and for Mother's Day, which falls in May in the US. Look for a vivid green stone and a band in the metal tone she wears most.
What is a mother's ring?
A mother's ring brings together the birthstones of a mother's children, either set side by side in one ring or as separate stackable bands worn together. Stackable bands are easy to grow: add a ring for each new child or grandchild.
Do you put the mother's birthstone in a mother's ring?
There is no fixed rule, and both choices are common. Traditionally a mother's ring shows only the children's birthstones. Many families also include the mother's own birthstone, and sometimes her partner's, so the ring represents the whole family. With stackable rings you can simply add her band to the stack, or leave it out, as she prefers.
Stacking ideas
- May and December: pair a May emerald with a December zircon for a couple, or for two children born in those months. Green and sky blue look fresh together.
- One per child: stack a band for each child's month, in birth order.
- Mix metals: combine gold and silver tones to tell bands apart at a glance.
- Add sparkle: finish the stack with a slim moissanite band.
Choosing the right size for a stack
Several bands together can feel snugger than one, so if you are between sizes, choose the larger size. Our ring size guide shows US and UK sizes.
Shop birthstone rings
Our stackable birthstone ring comes in all twelve birthstone colors, in gold or silver tone stainless steel, set with colored zircon stones in each month's shade. Shipping is free, with 60-day free returns. Browse all birthstone rings.
