Birthstone Charms: Jewelry ideas for makers
How to use birthstone charms in bracelets, earrings & necklaces
Birthstone jewelry is one of those things that never seems to go out of fashion.
Why?
Birthdays keep happening (quite conveniently every year 😋), and people absolutely love wearing jewelry that represents their month, or the birthstones of children, partners, grandchildren, dogs, cats…
…you get the idea.
So, from a jewelry maker’s point of view, it’s rather excellent news.
Because birthstones are one of the easiest ways to turn a simple piece of jewelry into something personal, meaningful, and super gift-worthy. Add a cute tiny gemstone charm to your bracelet or necklace and suddenly it’s not just jewelry… it’s ‘my daughter’s birthstone‘ or ‘my grandchildren’s months‘.
Birthstones by month
The idea of birthstones actually dates back centuries, when gemstones were linked to the twelve months of the year, though the list we use today was only standardised by jewelers in the early 1900s.
So, if you’re planning to design with birthstone charms, it helps to know which stone belongs to which month… and get this – they all have symbolic meanings too!
| Month | Stone | Meaning |
| January | Garnet | Protection and strength |
| February | Amethyst | Calm, balance and clarity |
| March | Aquamarine | Peace and courage |
| April | Diamond | Strength and everlasting love |
| May | Emerald | Growth and renewal |
| June | Pearl / Moonstone | Purity and intuition |
| July | Ruby | Passion and energy |
| August | Peridot | Positivity and protection |
| September | Sapphire | Wisdom and loyalty |
| October | Opal / Tourmaline | Creativity and imagination |
| November | Citrine/Amber | Joy and abundance |
| December | Turquoise / Blue Topaz | Good fortune and protection |
Maker Tip:
You can absolutely use natural birthstone gemstones in your pieces. But many jewelry makers use birthstone crystal charms. These are often made from cubic zirconia rather than natural gemstones, which keeps them affordable and look real pretty.
Why birthstone charms work so well
The beautifulness of birthstone charms is that they do a lot of the storytelling for you.
A simple bracelet becomes:
• a birthday gift
• a new baby keepsake
• a mother’s necklace with children’s stones
• a friendship bracelet with meaningful colours
You can also create pieces that customers come back for again and again.
Baby arrives? Add another charm.
New grandchild? Ooh, lets and another!
Before long their bracelet has become a tiny wearable family tree!
Jewelry that evolves… I love that!
Jewelry ideas using birthstone charms
The good news is you don’t need anything complicated to start using birthstone crystal charms. Pair with initials, or engraved pendants to add an extra level of thoughtfulness.
Charm necklaces
A single birthstone charm on a delicate chain is a classic.
But you can also:
- add multiple birthstones for children
- combine with initial charms
- create layered necklaces with different stones
Birthstone bracelets
Bracelets are one of the easiest ways to introduce birthstone charms. These also became one of my best-selling pieces in my own jewelry business, created quite a few variations, generic versions, personalised versions and itsy bitsy baby verison (see middle image below). So you can…
- make family bracelets with multiple charms
- create birthstone beaded stacks for each month
- pair charms with colour-coordinated beads
And if you’re already making stretch bracelets, this is a lovely addition.
Birthstone earrings
Tiny birthstone charms also work beautifully for earrings.
Simple ideas include:
- tiny drop earrings with a single stone
- hoop earrings with removable charms
- mixed gemstone earrings using several birthstones
They’re small, quick to make, and make awesome birthday gifts.
Where to find birthstone charms
If you’re just experimenting, there are actually some lovely birthstone charm options on Amazon that are great for trying out designs or testing ideas. You can browse a range here – Birthstone Charm Sets.
Little tip: If you’re just experimenting with birthstone designs, a mixed set like this is a great place to start. You get all the months in one pack, which is perfect for testing different bracelet and necklace ideas.
If you’re ready for wholesale suppliers
Once you start making jewelry for customers, you’ll probably want to move beyond retail suppliers like Amazon. Over the years (and after more supplier experiments than I care to admit) I’ve built up a list of reliable places that sell beautiful beads, findings, the best birthstone charms and jewelry supplies.
If you’re a beginner maker and want a shortcut to some trusted suppliers, you can take a look at my Jewelry Supplier Directory where I share the companies I personally use and trust.
Have a lovely day! 🤗
