Gems for the twelve Thai zodiac years, from each animal's element and lucky colours

The twelve-animal cycle is a way of counting years in rounds of twelve, each year named for an animal. Thailand adopted it from China and has used it alongside the Thai calendar for centuries. Almost every Thai person knows their animal, and asking someone's year is a polite way to guess their age without asking for a number.

In Chinese astrology each animal belongs to one of five elements — wood, fire, earth, metal, water — and each element has lucky colours. A gem in an animal's lucky colour is taken to strengthen the element and the wearer's fortune. Unlike birthstones by day or by zodiac sign, there is no single fixed list of gems per animal that every school uses. What the schools agree on is the colour. So this guide starts from colour and pairs it with gems that carry that colour and can actually be bought.

Summary table

Add or subtract twelve to extend the years in either direction: the Rat years before 1984 are 1972 and 1960.

See the gems and jewellery we have in store, by animal, on the Thai zodiac year page.

Born between January and April? Check first

This is where people most often go wrong, and why some wear the wrong animal's stone all their lives.

The animal does not change on 1 January. Two conventions are in use in Thailand.

• Chinese reckoning — the year changes at Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February and moves every year.
• Traditional Thai reckoning — the year changes at the Thai New Year, Songkran, in mid-April (some sources use 1 April).

So anyone born between 1 January and mid-April may belong to the previous animal under one convention or the other. Someone born on 5 February 2000, for example: the Western calendar says Dragon, and Chinese New Year that year fell on 5 February exactly, so by Chinese reckoning they are a Dragon — but by traditional Thai reckoning still a Rabbit.

If you were born in that window and want the stone to be right, ask an older relative which convention the family follows, or choose a stone that suits both animals. That is often possible, because the lucky colours of neighbouring animals frequently overlap.

Water animals — Rat, Pig

Water stands for intelligence, flexibility and adaptation. Its colours are blue and black, and it is strengthened by metal (white, gold), which is why gold appears in the list.

Rat — blue sapphire is the principal stone, with golden yellow sapphire and green emerald in support. Rats are taken to be clever and quick; a blue sapphire in a small everyday setting suits that — Gems for the Rat

Pig — the colours run to yellow, grey and brown, so yellow sapphire and pearl fit. Pigs are taken to be kind and lucky with money; yellow sapphire, the stone of wealth, is the popular choice — Gems for the Pig

Wood animals — Tiger, Rabbit

Wood stands for growth and creativity. Its colours are green and blue, strengthened by water (blue, black).

Tiger — blue sapphire is principal; orange sapphire supports it and speaks to the tiger's force. Tigers are taken to be brave and natural leaders — Gems for the Tiger

Rabbit — pink, purple and blue, which sapphire covers in all three. Rabbits are taken to be gentle and to have taste — Gems for the Rabbit

Fire animals — Snake, Horse

Fire stands for enthusiasm and passion. Its colours are red, pink and purple, strengthened by wood (green).

Snake — black, red and yellow: black spinel, ruby and yellow sapphire. Snakes are taken to be deep and charismatic; a single dark ruby suits them best — Gems for the Snake

Horse — yellow, green and purple: yellow sapphire, emerald and jade. Horses are taken to be cheerful and independent — Gems for the Horse

Earth animals — Ox, Dragon, Goat, Dog

Earth has the most animals. It stands for stability, reliability and accumulation. Its colours are yellow and brown, strengthened by fire (red).

Ox — diamond, yellow sapphire and jade. Oxen are taken to be hard-working and patient; jade, the stone of long-term stability, is especially popular here — Gems for the Ox

Dragon — the most auspicious animal in Chinese tradition. Gold, silver and red: yellow sapphire, diamond and ruby. Dragons are taken to be commanding and ambitious — Gems for the Dragon

Goat — emerald, jade and ruby. Goats are taken to be gentle and artistic; emerald or jade in finely detailed work suits them — Gems for the Goat

Dog — ruby, emerald and jade. Dogs are taken to be loyal and sincere — Gems for the Dog

Metal animals — Monkey, Rooster

Metal stands for precision, determination and achievement. Its colours are white, gold and silver, strengthened by earth (yellow, brown).

Monkey — diamond, pearl and blue sapphire. Monkeys are taken to be clever and quick-witted; a clean white diamond fits metal best — Gems for the Monkey

Rooster — golden yellow sapphire is principal; sphene, a yellow-green stone with exceptional fire, is an unusual alternative. Roosters are taken to be direct and orderly — Gems for the Rooster

Combining with the day of birth

This is common in Thailand, because the two systems look at different things — the weekday and the birth year — and a stone that satisfies both is thought especially good. Born on a Friday in a Rat year, blue sapphire answers both. Born on a Sunday in a Dragon year, ruby does.

If the stones differ, the usual approach is to use one system's stone as the centre and the other's as surrounding or accent stones in the same piece. See Thai birthstones by day of the week.