3 Alternatives to May’s Birthstone

Emerald is the traditional birthstone for May and among the most expensive gemstones. Lab-grown emeralds are one alternative but there are also other stones that you can use to make birthstone jewelry for May babies. 

Pictured above: Agate is one affordable alternative birthstone for May.

A different way to look at birthstones is to check your zodiac chart. Each sun sign is associated with numerous gemstones. The main zodiac birthstones are included in the chart below. Here are three alternatives to May’s birthstone that won’t break the bank. 

May: Agate

Agate is one of the zodiac birthstones for Taurus (April 21-May 21) and Gemini (May 22-June 21), which makes it a good alternative for the month of May. There are so many types of agate that it isn’t hard to find one to love. Agates have translucency and patterns of color that can appear as bands or clouds. Some have special attributes, such as fire agate, which is a phenomenal gem. As light passes through the layers of the stone, it creates a prismatic effect.

Taurus: Sapphire

Sapphire is a zodiac birthstone for Taurus, which covers the first half (plus) of May. Star sapphire is a particularly cosmic type of sapphire, with a white star that radiates through the stone. It makes a distinctive alternative to the faceted type of sapphire that’s more commonly associated with the month of September’s traditional birthstone. Star sapphire has a history of being used as a talisman for protecting travelers. For more sapphire color options, read Gemstones and Birthstones: Sapphire—Beautiful Blue and All Colors of the Rainbow.

Gemini: Moonstone

Moonstone is also an alternative birthstone for Gemini, which covers the second half of May. Its color ranges from translucent to white and gray, peach, blue, and more. But the primary thing that sets moonstone apart is its schiller, or adularescence: the light that seems to glow from within and play across the stone. Read Gemstone Adventures: Mine for Moonstone and Learn to Set it in Jewelry for another side of this amazing stone. 

More About Zodiac Birthstones:

It can be fun to have more than one birthstone option, even if you like your regular birthstone! Here’s the rest of the zodiac chart.

Which gemstone for May is your favorite? Is it emerald, or one of these May birthstone alternatives? Let us know in the comments.

Projects with Alternative May Birthstones