Birthstone nails are trending and honestly? About time. It’s the perfect excuse to turn iconic gem colors into birthday nail looks that actually serve. If you care about the meaning, go off. If not, they still eat. From ruby cat-eyes to pearl chrome to opal shimmer stacks, each month brings its own nail drama. Whether you’re repping your birth month or stealing someone else’s prettier stone (valid), here’s how to wear all 12 like a nail girlie who knows trends, combos, and which finishes actually hit.
1. January – Garnet
January babies pulled the burgundy card and honestly? Jealous. Garnet runs the whole spectrum from wine-red to that almost-black burgundy that screams expensive. Historically, it’s been in royal signet rings and Victorian jewelry – so when you wear garnet nails, you’re tapping into old-school power chic.
I’ve yet to try a better shade than DND’s Garnet Red #633, but if you want the full-effect January nails? Do a red cat-eye or the IG-famous layered technique: deep garnet base → crushed gold foil (or white marble) → another layer of garnet. Instantly looks like gemstone glass. Garnet represents strength and protection, but even if you don’t care about the meaning, the aesthetic clears.
2. February – Amethyst
Not to be dramatic, but amethyst used to be more expensive than diamonds? Like, ancient Greeks were really out here choosing purple rocks over sparkly ones. The stone goes from barely-there lavender to this insane deep violet, and fun geology moment – you can actually see the color zones inside real amethyst.
Simple route for your February mani? Londontown Amethyst On Ice 👌. Want more drama? Pisces and Aquarius girlies are doing purple marble, ombré blends, aura shading, or lavender chrome (yes, it’s trending again). Amethyst is linked to clarity and peace, which is hilarious for a month that’s mostly terrible weather and tax prep – but sure, let’s manifest peace through birthstone nails.
3. March – Aquamarine
March said “make it ocean” and aquamarine delivered. It’s literally named “water of the sea” which is so on-the-nose, but also perfect? It’s beryl (same family as emerald) but in this gorgeous pale blue that looks like frozen water. The stone’s tied to calmness and clarity, which fits March/spring fresh-start energy perfectly.
Aquamarine nails are basically spring-break core: blue jelly, ombre fades, light aqua marble, pale blue chrome – all trendy, all cute. I’m obsessed with INLP’s Aerial View for that holographic ice-princess effect. And if you’re an Aries with zero chill? Full teal chrome is also a fab option for your March set.
4. April – Diamond
April really said “I’ll take the priciest one, thanks.” Diamonds are literally just carbon that got its life together under pressure (relatable). And before you ask – yes, diamonds come in colors (yellow, pink, brown, black even), but clear is the cultural default.
This is rhinestone month, period. Add gems to French tips, load up your ring fingers, go full-on iced out. Or, if you hate 3D, fake your April mani with shimmer: milky base + iridescent chrome or holographic flakes. The way light bounces off real diamonds is called “fire” and we’re recreating that with strategic glitter placement. Taurus season is around the corner, so you might as well start flexing early.
5. May – Emerald
Emerald is beryl’s richest cousin, colored green by chromium (chemistry lesson over, promise). Cleopatra was hoarding these, and every old Hollywood movie has someone dripping in emeralds, so May babies are in good company. The coolest thing about real emeralds? They have these inclusions called “jardin” (garden in French) that make each one unique. Flaws but make them fancy.
If you haven’t done emerald cat-eye, stop everything. It looks like you dipped your hand in actual money. Marble’s trending again too, especially with soft white veining. And for full-glam May nails: emerald base (Essie Off Tropic is so good), gold foil or line art, glossy topcoat. This works for Tauruses, Geminis, and people pretending not to be Geminis.
6. June – Pearl
June’s stone isn’t even a stone and that’s the energy we need. Pearls are just mollusks having a moment, layering nacre until beauty happens. Natural pearls are very rare, but cultured ones gave us the democratization of elegance we deserved. They come in white, pink, black, gold – the range!
Londontown’s Pearl is the easy route for your June manicure. Want to go extra? Milky base + chrome = instant class. Or pile on 3D pearl charms, sculpted shell art, or French tips with pearl swirls for maximum drama. It’s wedding season, Cancer season, and the romantic crisis month, so lean into it. Pearls mean “wisdom” which is rich coming from stressed-out seafood, but aren’t we all just trying our best?
7. July – Ruby
Ruby is red corundum – the same mineral as sapphire, but red thanks to chromium. The best rubies have this color called “pigeon blood red” which is unhinged terminology but gemologists are weird and we accept it. Oh, and once upon a time, these were worth more than diamonds because drama.
ILNP’s Ruby brings the drama and shimmer we deserve, or grab Orly’s Ruby if you’re that Virgo who wants color without the party. Red magnetic polish? July power mani. Gem marble effect? Perfect for Leo season – zero subtlety required. This one’s tied to passion and protection, which checks out. It’s a statement color that doesn’t ask for approval.
8. August – Peridot
August really got assigned the quirky one. Peridot ONLY comes in one color – green (yellowish-green specifically) because it’s that committed to its brand. And the wildest part? Some peridot literally comes from meteorites. Your birthstone could be from space.
This olive-chartreuse moment isn’t for everyone but that’s literally the point. Chrome powder over olive base (Cirque Colors Olive Jelly or OPI Hello Kindness), cat-eye magnetic in yellow-green, or gradient from lime to deep olive – all winners for your August set. Peridot means strength and positivity, and makes sense – it takes both to wear yellow-green and serve.
9. September – Sapphire
Sapphire is corundum that decided not to be red (then it would be ruby, keep up). While we think blue, sapphires come in every color except red. The blue ones though? Kashmir sapphires are stupid rare and stupid expensive. Yes, that’s Kate Middleton’s engagement ring stone.
For September nails, deep blue is the move – Olive & June’s Sapphire Season hits perfectly. Sapphire nails with cat-eye finish are trending hard, and I’m also seeing negative space designs or silver chrome accents blowing up on NailTok. Virgos lean clean and symmetrical; Libras go full glam – both work perfectly. Sapphires mean wisdom and nobility, which tracks because these nails always look expensive.
10. October – Opal
Opal doesn’t get color from trace elements like other gems – it gets it from light physics. Tiny silica spheres bend light into rainbows. This is called “play-of-color” and it’s why opals look like unicorn tears.
October nails are holographic everything, color-shifting chromes, multichromes that change at every angle. Libras can do subtle shimmer, Scorpios can layer five different polishes. If you want the real deal, The Gel Bottle’s Opal shade is insane – ask your salon if they have it. Opals represent hope and creativity, but really, they’re just the perfect excuse to go weird, shiny, and extra with your mani.
11. November – Citrine
Plot twist: most citrine is just amethyst that got cooked (literally heat-treated purple into yellow), but we’re not pressed because that warm golden glow is everything. Natural citrine is rare which makes November babies special by default (or by cooking, your choice).
Jelly finishes make citrine nails look expensive – that translucent golden amber? YAS. Or you can try auras, tortoiseshell patterns, brown French tips, or just go full disco with gold glitter. Sagittarius doesn’t do boring, so make your November mani sparkle. Citrine is about abundance and positivity – manifestation girlies, this is your stone.
12. December – Tanzanite
Tanzanite is the youngest birthstone – only discovered in the ’60s in Tanzania (creative naming, I know). It shifts from blue to violet to purple depending on the light, and it’s rarer than diamonds because it literally only exists in one place on Earth.
Tanzanite nails are all about drama and movement: violet bases with blue shimmer, multichrome powders, or magnetic finishes that refuse to sit still. Victoria Vynn 233 Cat Eye Tanzanite nails this chaotic Sagittarius-to-Capricorn transition perfectly. Transformation is basically the theme here, so go ahead and start plotting your 2026 glow-up – your December nails are already ahead of schedule.
The Bottom Line
Birthstone nails are such a fun way to personalize your manicure while staying on-trend. Whether you’re repping your actual birth month or just vibing with a color that speaks to you, there’s something so satisfying about wearing a look inspired by these incredible natural gems.
I’ve cycled through half of these just for fun, and it’s made me way more experimental with finishes. Bonus: people will ask what you’re wearing, and you get to flex your niche gemstone trivia. Like, yes babe, my nails are inspired by silica spheres bending light.
So tell me – which one are you wearing first? And please send this to your bestie who thinks peridot is “too weird.” She’s wrong. It’s space-core and she needs to catch up.