Shop now, pay later
Searching for a Jared birthstone necklace usually means one thing: you want a pendant that carries personal meaning without turning into a research project. This guide walks through what each monthly stone actually is, which metals hold up over years of daily wear, and how to compare options from mall retailers with smaller specialty shops like ours.
SilverRush Style has sold real natural-stone sterling silver jewelry since 2005, so the notes below lean on gemology basics rather than marketing copy. Use them to shop smarter, whether you buy from Jared or from an independent silversmith.
Birthstones by month: what you’re actually buying
The modern US birthstone list was standardized by the American National Retail Jewelers Association in 1912 and updated by Jewelers of America in later revisions. Knowing the mineral behind the name helps you judge durability and price.
January through June
January – Garnet: a silicate group including almandine and pyrope, Mohs 6.5–7.5, commonly mined in India, Madagascar, and Mozambique. February – Amethyst: purple quartz (SiO2), Mohs 7, with major deposits in Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia.
March – Aquamarine: a beryl variety colored by iron, Mohs 7.5–8, sourced largely from Brazil and Pakistan. April – Diamond or the affordable alternative white topaz, Mohs 10 and 8 respectively. May – Emerald: beryl with chromium or vanadium, Mohs 7.5–8, from Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil.
June – Pearl, moonstone, or alexandrite: pearl is organic calcium carbonate at Mohs 2.5–4.5, moonstone is a feldspar at Mohs 6, and alexandrite is a color-change chrysoberyl at Mohs 8.5.
July through December
July – Ruby: corundum (Al2O3) with chromium, Mohs 9, from Myanmar, Mozambique, and Thailand. August – Peridot: gem-quality olivine, Mohs 6.5–7, mined in Arizona, Pakistan, and Myanmar. September – Sapphire: also corundum, Mohs 9, with Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Montana as key sources.
October – Opal or pink tourmaline: opal is hydrated silica at Mohs 5.5–6.5, tourmaline a boron silicate at Mohs 7–7.5. November – Citrine or yellow topaz, Mohs 7 and 8. December – Turquoise, tanzanite, or blue topaz, ranging from Mohs 5 to 8.
What a Jared birthstone necklace typically offers
Jared, part of Signet Jewelers, stocks personalized birthstone pendants in 10K and 14K gold along with sterling silver settings. Popular formats include the Mother’s Heart pendant holding two to five stones and family-tree designs where each leaf represents a child. Pricing in the current catalog starts around $226 for diamond-accented family pendants and climbs with stone count and metal purity.
Two things to check before ordering: whether the birthstone is natural, lab-grown, or a simulant, and the production lead time for engraving. Signet discloses treatment and origin on individual product pages, and most personalized orders ship within two to three weeks.
If you want a chain style Jared doesn’t carry — say, a long lariat or a rolo chain in oxidized silver — a specialty shop is usually the better route. Our own sterling silver collection covers pendants, chokers, and layering chains sized from 16 to 24 inches.
Sterling silver vs. gold settings for daily wear
Sterling silver is 92.5% silver alloyed with 7.5% copper, giving it a Vickers hardness near 80 HV. It tarnishes when sulfur in the air reacts with the silver surface, but a polishing cloth restores the shine in seconds. 14K gold is harder and won’t tarnish, though it costs roughly six to ten times more per gram at 2026 spot prices.
For softer birthstones like pearl, opal, or turquoise, a bezel setting in silver protects the girdle better than prongs. Harder stones such as sapphire, ruby, and topaz sit fine in either prong or bezel mounts and shrug off normal knocks.
Chain gauge matters more than most shoppers realize. A 1.2 mm cable chain holds pendants up to about 3 grams; anything heavier calls for a 1.5–2 mm rolo or Figaro to keep the necklace from stretching over time.
How to pick a birthstone gift that gets worn
Start with the recipient’s existing jewelry. If she wears warm yellow gold, a citrine or garnet in a matching tone reads as a considered gift. Cool silver wardrobes pair naturally with aquamarine, amethyst, blue topaz, and moonstone.
Necklace length is the second decision. A 16-inch chain sits at the collarbone on most adults, 18 inches falls just below, and 20-plus inches works over sweaters and higher necklines. Mother’s pendants with multiple stones look balanced at 18 inches.
For sensitive skin, confirm the alloy. Sterling silver is nickel-free by default in reputable US shops, and 14K gold sold in the US must meet FTC purity rules. Ask for a written stone treatment disclosure — heat treatment on sapphire and ruby is standard and permanent, while dyed turquoise or fracture-filled emerald needs gentler care.
If you’d like a second opinion on stone quality, chain length, or setting style before ordering, our team answers questions by email and has been fitting natural-stone silver pieces to customers across all 50 states for two decades. Browse the birthstone category when you’re ready, or send a photo of what you have in mind and we’ll suggest three options in your budget.
