December Birthstone
With four stunning blue gemstones to choose from, December has more birthstones than any other month. December babies get to choose from classic blue topaz, unique tanzanite, vibrant blue zircon, or striking turquoise. Which beautiful blue birthstone is right for you? Find out as we go over everything you need to know about the December birthstones.
First December Birthstone: Blue Topaz
Blue topaz is the blue variety of topaz, a gemstone that comes in a rainbow of colors. Topaz is colorless in its pure state but is easily colored by trace elements and irradiation. Blue topaz is extremely rare in nature, so most blue topaz sold today has been treated to either create or improve its color.
With a rating of 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, blue topaz is one of the hardest gemstones. This makes it excellent for daily wear in jewelry. Because blue topaz is often heat treated, be careful about exposing it to intense heat, prolonged light, and ultrasonic cleaners, all of which can affect its appearance.
Blue Topaz History and Meaning
Humans have adorned themselves in topaz for thousands of years. Ancient Greek people believed that topaz brought the wearer strength, while ancient Romans believed it could protect against harm. People in Ancient India associated wearing topaz with beauty, intelligence, and long life. During Europe’s Renaissance era, people believed that topaz had the power to dispel anger and break spells.
Blue topaz, specifically, is associated with honesty, clarity, and peace. When used in an engagement ring or a romantic gift, blue topaz is also a symbol of love and loyalty. Alongside being one of December’s birthstones, it is the gemstone for the 4th wedding anniversary.
Sources of Blue Topaz
Topaz can be found in many parts of the world. Notable sources of topaz include Brazil, Australia, Madagascar, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and the United States.
Second December Birthstone: Tanzanite
Tanzanite, the blue to violet variety of zoisite, is a gemstone that’s famous for its color-shifting properties. Tanzanite can be naturally blue, blue-violet, or burgundy, and its color looks different depending on the lighting. The same piece of tanzanite will look bluer in fluorescent light and more violet in incandescent light.
Tanzanite ranks at a 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so it is fairly durable. Despite often being heat treated to improve its color, tanzanite is not affected by normal heat or light, as its color treatment is permanent. However, tanzanite can still be harmed by extreme temperatures and common chemicals, so it should be stored and cleaned with care.
Tanzanite History and Meaning
Tanzanite gets its name from Tanzania, where the gemstone was first found. Tanzanite was discovered during the 1967 eruption of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Compared to the other December birthstones, tanzanite is an extremely recent discovery. And every color of zoisite is new in the grand scheme of history, having first been described in 1805.
As such a new gemstone, tanzanite has had little time to accumulate lore. Yet, in its brief existence, it’s already become a December birthstone and the gem of the 24th wedding anniversary.
Sources of Tanzanite
To this day, tanzanite can still only be found in one place: the Merelani Hills of northern Tanzania.
Third December Birthstone: Blue Zircon
Blue zircon is the blue variety of zirconium silicate, more commonly known as zircon. Blue zircon has high refraction and excellent fire, making it impressively sparkly for a colored gem.
While blue is the most popular shade of zircon, the gemstone comes in a variety of colors. Zircon can be red, green, yellow, orange, brown, pink, purple, gray, or colorless. Most of the zircon you’ll find sold today has been heat treated to improve its color and shine. Zircon’s blue color is almost always a result of heat treatment, as natural blue zircon is extremely rare.
With a Mohs hardness rating of 6 to 7.5, zircon is a fairly tough stone that’s suited for everyday wear. Because zircon is usually heat treated, you should avoid exposing it to direct light for long periods. When you’re not wearing your zircon jewelry, store it inside your jewelry box.
Blue Zircon History and Meaning
Zircon is an ancient stone that’s thought to be older than humanity itself. Zircon can sometimes contain traces of uranium, which scientists can use to date the stone. Scientists have found that much of the world’s zircon is between 3 billion and 4.4 billion years old.
Zircon has been a popular gem throughout history. Zircon is famously one of the nine gems of the navaratna in the Hindu religion. When worn together, these gems were said to bring the wearer wealth, wisdom, protection, and good health. In the Middle Ages, people believed that zircon helped ward off evil and that it could induce deep sleep. In the Victorian era, zircon was a popular gem for mourning jewelry.
The origin of the word zircon has been debated. Some say it comes from the Arabic word zarkun, meaning “cinnabar,” while others say it comes from the Persian word zargun, meaning “gold-colored.” In the modern era, the name zircon has caused this gem to occasionally be confused with the similarly named cubic zirconia, but note that these stones have no relation.
Sources of Blue Zircon
Traces of blue zircon can be found all over the earth’s crust, but larger zircon stones are rare. Most of the world’s gem-quality zircon is found in Australia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Africa, and Vietnam.
Fourth December Birthstone: Turquoise
Turquoise is an opaque gemstone loved for its intense blue color, which can range from pure blue to blue-green. The robin’s egg blue and sky blue Persian turquoise found in Iran is considered the finest variety.
Turquoise ranges from 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so it’s relatively soft for a gemstone. It’s still a good choice for use in jewelry, but it should be worn and cleaned with care.
Turquoise History and Meaning
Turquoise jewelry has been loved since ancient times. It famously appears on the funerary mask of the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen, also known as King Tut. Turquoise was also treasured in Ancient China, where artisans used turquoise to create fine carvings. In many cultures, turquoise has been considered a stone of good fortune.
Turquoise is an important gemstone in Native American culture. The Apache people believed that turquoise could be found at the end of a rainbow and that wearing it would increase an archer’s accuracy. Hopi lore states that turquoise was created by lizards roaming across the earth, while the Pueblo people believed turquoise was colored by the sky itself.
Turquoise was introduced to Europe by Turkish traders in the 13th century, which influenced the stone’s name. The word turquoise comes from the French turquois, meaning “Turkish.” Europeans in this era would give turquoise rings as “forget me not” rings.
Sources of Turquoise
Today, much of the world’s turquoise comes from Iran. Other major sources of turquoise include China, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.
Why Does December Have So Many Birthstones?
December has three modern birthstones–blue topaz, tanzanite, and blue zircon–and two traditional birthstones–turquoise and lapis lazuli. But why does December have so many birthstones?
We can trace December’s plethora of birthstones back to 1912 when the National Association of Jewelers released an updated list of birthstones. The gems on the new list all had one thing in common: they were transparent. At that time, it was popular for mothers to wear rings featuring their children’s birthstones. However, this resulted in a mixture of opaque and transparent gemstones when using traditional birthstones, which was not in style. By making all of the modern birthstones transparent, this issue was solved.
All of December’s birthstones are a beautiful shade of blue, but the modern options are transparent, while the traditional gems are opaque. At first, blue zircon was the only modern December birthstone. Over time, jewelers began using tanzanite and blue topaz for December birthstone jewelry as well, so much so that they’ve become standard options.
Another reason December has so many birthstones is that one of its traditional birthstones, turquoise, has remained extremely popular even after the modern birthstone list debuted. The same can’t be said for other opaque traditional birthstones, like August’s sardonyx, March’s bloodstone, or December’s second traditional birthstone, lapis lazuli.
| MODERN | TRADITIONAL | |
| JANUARY | GARNET | GARNET |
| FEBRUARY | AMETHYST | AMETHYST |
| MARCH | AQUAMARINE | BLOODSTONE |
| APRIL | DIAMOND | DIAMOND |
| MAY | EMERALD | EMERALD |
| JUNE | ALEXANDRITE | PEARL |
| JULY | RUBY | RUBY |
| AUGUST | PERIDOT SPINEL | SARDONYX |
| SEPTEMBER | SAPPHIRE | SAPPHIRE |
| OCTOBER | TOURMALINE | OPAL |
| NOVEMBER | GOLDEN TOPAZ CITRINE | TOPAZ |
| DECEMBER | BLUE ZIRCON BLUE TOPAZ TANZANITE | TURQUOISE LAPIS LAZULI |
December Birthstone Jewelry Gift Ideas
This white gold and oval cut blue topaz ring is an elegant choice that will stand the test of time.
These round-cut blue topaz stud earrings are a classic birthstone gift they’re sure to love.
This simulated blue topaz band is a versatile option designed to be mixed and matched with other rings.
Sleek yet eye-catching, these tanzanite studs are a stand-out birthstone gift.
With twenty sparkling accent stones and a velvety cushion cut simulated tanzanite, this piece is at once unique and glamorous.
This necklace’s Rhythm of Love setting allows its center blue topaz to shimmer beautifully with the movement of the wearer.
December Birthstone Jewelry at Frank Jewelers
Find the perfect December birthstone piece for yourself or a loved one. Click this link to browse our full selection of December birthstone jewelry.
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