Short answer: every zodiac sign has a traditional gemstone. The best-known list, published by the gem expert George F. Kunz in 1913, gives Aries bloodstone, Taurus sapphire, Gemini agate, Cancer emerald, Leo onyx, Virgo carnelian, Libra chrysolite, Scorpio beryl, Sagittarius topaz, Capricorn ruby, Aquarius garnet and Pisces amethyst. Modern crystal guides often add other stones for each sign. Zodiac stones are different from birthstones, which follow the calendar month. Both are traditions rooted in astrology and folklore, not properties of the stones.
What is a zodiac stone?
A zodiac stone is a gem linked with an astrological sign, rather than with a calendar month as a birthstone is. The idea is old: medieval astrological lapidaries, books on the powers of stones, set out links between the signs of the zodiac and particular gems. In 1913, George Frederick Kunz, an American mineralogist and gem expert, published a list of zodiac stones in his book The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, and that list is still the most widely cited.
Zodiac stones by sign
The table gives each sign's approximate dates under the tropical zodiac, its traditional stone from Kunz's 1913 list, and the stones most often added in modern crystal traditions.
| Sign | Dates (about) | Traditional stone (Kunz, 1913) | Modern picks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | March 21 to April 19 | Bloodstone | Carnelian, red jasper |
| Taurus | April 20 to May 20 | Sapphire | Rose quartz, malachite |
| Gemini | May 21 to June 20 | Agate | Moonstone, citrine |
| Cancer | June 21 to July 22 | Emerald | Moonstone, selenite |
| Leo | July 23 to August 22 | Onyx | Tiger's eye, citrine, carnelian |
| Virgo | August 23 to September 22 | Carnelian | Lapis lazuli, jade |
| Libra | September 23 to October 22 | Chrysolite (peridot) | Lapis lazuli, rose quartz |
| Scorpio | October 23 to November 21 | Beryl | Obsidian, malachite |
| Sagittarius | November 22 to December 21 | Topaz | Lapis lazuli, sodalite, turquoise |
| Capricorn | December 22 to January 19 | Ruby | Smoky quartz, obsidian, black tourmaline |
| Aquarius | January 20 to February 18 | Garnet | Amethyst, labradorite |
| Pisces | February 19 to March 20 | Amethyst | Moonstone, aquamarine |
Sign dates shift by a day or so from year to year, and sources differ slightly, so check the exact date if you were born near the change.
Zodiac stones vs birthstones
- Birthstones follow the calendar month. The modern United States list was set by the jewelry trade in 1912 and has been updated since. See the birthstones guide.
- Zodiac stones follow the astrological sign, which runs from about the 20th of one month to about the 20th of the next.
Because every sign spans two months, most people have a zodiac stone and two possible birthstones to choose from. Sometimes they match: amethyst is both the February birthstone and the Pisces stone, garnet both the January birthstone and the Aquarius stone, and bloodstone both a March birthstone and the Aries stone.
Why do modern lists differ?
Modern crystal guides often pick stones for a sign by its element and symbol: fiery reds and golds for the fire signs, earthy and dark stones for the earth signs, airy and bright stones for the air signs, and watery blues, violets and glowing stones for the water signs. Because these choices are made by different writers, lists vary widely, and there is no single authority.
| Element | Signs | Typical modern stones |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius | Carnelian, tiger's eye, citrine, red jasper |
| Earth | Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn | Rose quartz, jade, malachite, smoky quartz |
| Air | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius | Agate, citrine, amethyst, lapis lazuli |
| Water | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces | Moonstone, selenite, obsidian, aquamarine |
Are zodiac stones real?
Zodiac stones are real traditions, but astrology itself has been recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, and there is no scientific evidence that signs, or the stones linked with them, affect personality or events. People enjoy zodiac stones as personal symbols, birthday gifts and a way into collecting.
How do you choose a zodiac stone?
- For tradition, choose the Kunz stone for your sign.
- For meaning, choose a modern pick whose traditional meaning appeals to you; the crystal meanings guide lists them.
- For jewelry, consider hardness: sapphire, ruby, topaz and beryl are among the hardest; onyx, agate, carnelian and amethyst are about 7; turquoise, opal and lapis lazuli are softer.
- For a combined gift, pair the zodiac stone with the birthstone.
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Frequently asked questions
What is my zodiac stone?
Find your sign in the table above. The traditional stone comes from George F. Kunz's 1913 list; the modern picks are stones often added by crystal guides today.
Are zodiac stones the same as birthstones?
No. Birthstones follow the calendar month; zodiac stones follow the astrological sign. Because each sign spans two months, they often differ, though a few overlap.
Who decided the zodiac stones?
There is no single authority. Medieval astrological lapidaries linked stones with signs, and the most widely cited modern list was published by George F. Kunz in 1913.
Which signs share a stone with their birthstone?
Pisces (amethyst, February), Aquarius (garnet, January) and Aries (bloodstone, March) all have a traditional zodiac stone that is also a birthstone of one of their months.
Do zodiac stones have real effects?
There is no scientific evidence that they do. Astrology is considered pseudoscience; zodiac stones are enjoyed as traditions, symbols and gifts.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Birthstone (zodiac stones after Kunz, 1913): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthstone
- Wikipedia, Lapidary (text): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapidary_(text)
- Wikipedia, Astrology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology