Twelve animals in a fixed order, one to a year, repeating every twelve. Find the one that was running the year you were born, and that is the piece we make.
The one thing worth getting right. The zodiac year does not begin on 1 January. It begins at Chinese New Year, which moves with the moon and falls somewhere between 21 January and 20 February. If you were born in January or the first half of February, your animal is very likely the one before yours on this list.
Type your birth year into the box on the product page and it will do the sum for you →
2026 is a fire horse year
It began on 17 February 2026 and it comes round once in sixty — the last was 1966, the next is 2086. If you were born in a Horse year, this is your běnmìngnián: traditionally the year people wear their own sign. More on the Horse →
The twelve
- Rat — 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020. Natural African opal. First in the cycle; carried for quickness and for starting.
- Ox — 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021. Natural African opal. Carried for patience, and for work that takes as long as it takes.
- Tiger — 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022. Natural African opal. The first month of the lunar year. Carried for nerve.
- Rabbit — 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023. Natural African opal. Carried for soft strength, and for getting through a change.
- Dragon — 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024. Natural African opal. The only one of the twelve nobody has ever seen.
- Snake — 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025. Natural Swiss blue topaz. The animal that leaves a version of itself behind, on schedule.
- Horse — 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026. Natural African opal. The branch that holds noon. Carried for direction.
- Goat — 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027. Natural African opal with chrome diopside. Carried for quiet resistance.
- Monkey — 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028. Natural African opal. Carried for a quick mind.
- Rooster — 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029. Natural amethyst. The one that announces the day before you can see it.
- Dog — 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030. Natural garnet. Carried for trust, and for knowing where the line is.
- Pig — 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031. Natural African opal. Last in the cycle. Carried for plenty, and for taking it.
What you are buying
- Solid 925 sterling silver, with gold plating on the animal and the mount. We never plate base metal
- One natural stone per pendant, named above, picked by hand for your order
- White cubic zirconia accent stones — laboratory-made, not mined, and we say so
- Pendant roughly 25 mm across, on a box chain. No size to choose
- Made after you order it, up to 10 days. Free tracked delivery, 14-day returns
- £189, the same price whichever sign you choose
The Zodiac Circle collection · How the Chinese zodiac became jewellery · Or find your birth month instead
Carried as a mark of when you started. Some people feel something when they put one on. Some don't. Either way it is an old idea, and it is accurately made. We make no medical, therapeutic or health claims.