Meet All Four December Birthstones: Turquoise, Zircon, Tanzanite and Blue Topaz
If you were wondering what the birthstone for December is, you are in luck. December is a unique month, as it gets four different birthstones to call their own! Read on for a description and history of December’s gemstones.
TURQUOISE
The Iconic Provider of Good Health and Good Luck 
Since all the way back when years only had three digits, turquoise has been cherished by royalty, such as King Tut. These natural minerals were thought to protect their wearer from harm including falls and negative energy. Today they symbolize wisdom, tranquility and friendship.
Coming in at around 5 and 6 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, the industry standard for denseness and scratchability of minerals, turquoise jewelry should be handled with care. Primarily mined in arid regions of the world, particularly in areas with copper-rich geological formations and specific weather conditions that facilitate its, these dazzling gemstones are often known for their matrix-like look that bring extra color in spectacular spiderweb fashion. The most significant sources include the southwestern United States, Iran, Egypt, China, Mexico, and parts of Central Asia and Africa.
Turquoise is perfect for winter, as its light blue and green hues match the cold-weather color palette perfectly. Reminiscent of the cool, frosty temperatures, the rare Persian Blue turquoise is by far the most desired.
Turquoise is the “feel-good” hit of the winter months, so be sure to include it in your personal styles to get you through the cold!
TANZANITE
The Intense Gemstone of a Generation
Tanzanite is also known for its striking blues but adds a bit of purple to the party. Think of tanzanite gemstones like the velvet rope for your persona, one that is known to connect the heart and mind together.
As a relative newcomer to the birthstone family, tanzanite was only made official for December in 2002 by Tiffany & Co. It may also be the only one that has a chance to disappear at some point in time. That’s right, experts say that the exceedingly rare tanzanite mineral could be fully depleted within 30 years. Only found in the mountains of Tanzania, the aptly-named tanzanite is considered a great investment gemstone.
Registering between a 6 and 7 on the Mohs scale, this makes tanzanite harder than turquoise but softer than sapphires and rubies. Tanzanite is usually heat-treated to get its color and is best worn with care as an earring or a pendant.
In addition to being one of the four birthstones for December, tanzanite is also the official stone of a 24th wedding anniversary, so it knows a thing or two about life. In many cultures, they are believed to help with transformation and spiritual awareness, so this December birthstone will be with you for the long haul. Tanzanite is 1000 times rarer than diamond, so get yours while you still can!
Zircon
The Oldest December Birthstone on Record
Zircon is not – we repeat – not, to be confused with the more common cubic zirconia. They are two distinct minerals, with zircon being natural and cubic zirconia being a cheaper, lab-grown alternative. You deserve better, so treat yourself to the real thing….a gorgeous zircon!
Introduced as a December birthstone in 1952, this mineral can be found in many different shades and colors. Zircon even has naturally colorless variations, which can look very striking and brilliant due to its high refractivity. The blue zircon tends to be the most popular, and fits the winter weather quite well.
Zircon comes in around a 6 and 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, so it needs a little tender loving care to keep it’s shine. We recommend wearing them as rings, as they are less likely to chip. Also, please keep them out of ultrasonic cleaners, as these have been known to cause damage.
This gorgeous gemstone was mentioned in the Bible, as well as Hindu texts dating back thousands of years. Zircon has long been thought to promote wisdom and honor, as well as ward off nightmares. It was even thought to scare off evil spirits, so wear a nice zircon when you feel one around. They won’t stand a chance!
Blue Topaz
The Star of the December Show
Blue Topaz is a gemstone that’s loved for many reasons, but mainly because of the positivity it radiates. For centuries, it has been known to bring good health, good fortune and a loving spirit. Just take a look, how could you not be happy with something so chillingly gorgeous adorning you?
Known throughout the world as the “cooling crystal,” Blue Topaz is the winter wonderland of gemstones. However, it doesn’t come that way naturally. Topaz is actually a colorless crystal, but with irradiation and heat-treating, it has been optimized to create popping shades of blue that have withstood the test of time.
Even though the name is Blue Topaz, you should know that it can, in fact, come in different colors. Sky Blue is reminiscent of a sunny December afternoon, while Swiss Blue takes the temperature up a notch. Finally, London Blue brings a greenish hue to the blueish beauty and does so in a way that perfectly matches its namesake, the rainy but always lovely British capital.
December is a busy month for birthstones, so you have quite the selection to choose from. No matter what you pick, however, it’s impossible to go wrong!
