Journal

123 Articles
February Birthstone: Amethyst
birthstone / July 22, 2026

February Birthstone: Amethyst

Short answer: February’s birthstone is amethyst — the purple variety of quartz, which the U.S. Geological Survey places at 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. That one number...

October Birthstone: Opal vs Tourmaline
birthstone / July 21, 2026

October Birthstone: Opal vs Tourmaline

Short answer: October has two birthstones, opal and tourmaline, and the honest difference between them is durability. Opal is soft and sensitive to water and heat, so a...

August Birthstone: Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx
birthstone / July 20, 2026

August Birthstone: Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx

Short answer: August has three birthstones — peridot, the main modern stone, plus spinel and sardonyx. Peridot is the yellow-green gem most people mean, sardonyx is the older...

Cancer Birthstone: The Sign-vs-Month Problem
birthstone / July 20, 2026

Cancer Birthstone: The Sign-vs-Month Problem

Short answer: Cancer does not have one birthstone. The sign runs from June 21 to July 22, which straddles two calendar months with different stones (June is pearl,...