Birthstones by zodiac sign
The older of the two systems — running by sign rather than calendar month, which is why it often disagrees with the one your jeweller uses.
| Sign | Dates | Element | Stones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | March 21 – April 19 | Fire | Diamond, Bloodstone |
| Taurus | April 20 – May 20 | Earth | Emerald, Sapphire |
| Gemini | May 21 – June 20 | Air | Pearl, Agate |
| Cancer | June 21 – July 22 | Water | Ruby, Moonstone |
| Leo | July 23 – August 22 | Fire | Peridot, Onyx |
| Virgo | August 23 – September 22 | Earth | Sapphire, Carnelian |
| Libra | September 23 – October 22 | Air | Opal, Peridot |
| Scorpio | October 23 – November 21 | Water | Topaz, Obsidian |
| Sagittarius | November 22 – December 21 | Fire | Turquoise, Topaz |
| Capricorn | December 22 – January 19 | Earth | Garnet, Ruby |
| Aquarius | January 20 – February 18 | Air | Amethyst, Garnet |
| Pisces | February 19 – March 20 | Water | Aquamarine, Amethyst |
Why this list is older
The zodiac assignment came first. First-century writers, notably Josephus, connected the twelve stones of the high priest's breastplate in Exodus to the twelve signs — and the original practice was to own all twelve, wearing each during the weeks it governed.
Wearing only the stone of your own birth is a much later idea, and the monthly calendar version younger still. When the two lists disagree, it is not that one is wrong: they are answering slightly different questions.
Which one applies to you
Zodiac signs cross month boundaries, so the day matters. Born on 5 October, you get opal from both systems and there is no conflict. Born on 28 October, the calendar gives you October's opal while the zodiac gives you Scorpio's topaz.
Plenty of people wear both. Nothing in either tradition requires choosing.