A birthstone is a gemstone associated with the month you were born. For centuries, people have connected certain gems to each of the twelve months: January's deep red garnet, April's brilliant diamond, September's blue sapphire, and so on. Some people wear jewelry with their birthstone because they like having a personal connection to a particular gem, while others simply enjoy the color or beauty of the stone itself.

The tradition of birthstones goes back thousands of years, though different cultures have assigned different stones to different months over time. In 1912, jewelers in America created a standardized list that most people follow today, though a few stones have been added or updated since then.

You might receive a birthstone necklace or ring as a birthday gift, or notice that your grandmother wears earrings with her birthstone. Some families exchange birthstone jewelry to represent each family member. While there's no scientific reason why garnets should belong to January babies or emeralds to May babies, birthstones give people a fun way to feel connected to a particular gem and to celebrate the month they came into the world.