DECEMBER BIRTHSTONE
If you had to pick one December birthstone, which would it be: tanzanite, turquoise or zircon? From the blue to bluish purple of tanzanite, to the intense blue and green of turquoise, to the rainbow varieties of zircon – there’s a color for everyone. If blue is what you’re looking for, all three December birthstones have their own unique take on this favorite hue. Whatever your color, style or budget preferences may be, we can help you pick the right December birthstone for you or a loved one.
TURQUOISE BIRTHSTONE FOR DECEMBER
TURQUOISE BIRTHSTONE MEANING & HISTORY
The traditional birthstone for December is turquoise. Notably, this precious gemstone is available in a wide variety of colors and shades. From beautiful sea blue tones to teal, sky blue, green, and yellow with hints of black or green, the options are diverse. Moreover, the rarest within the turquoise family appears in the captivating shade of blue. The Lander Blue, recognized as the most expensive turquoise globally, commands a hefty price tag ranging from 200 to 300 dollars per carat. The sheer blue color of the gemstone makes it have a heftier stone in demand as compared to the other colors of its family.
HISTORY OF TURQUOISE BIRTHSTONE
In the 17th century, the French named the turquoise stone “turquois” because Europeans first discovered this gemstone in Turkey. Since 6000 BC, Ancient Egyptians were equally fond of the stone as they would bury their great Pharoh’s with it. They believed that they would use these precious gemstones in the afterlife. The Aztecs were not far behind to adorn it. They collaborated turquoises with their everyday jewelry of silver and gold. Till this day, Native Americans, incorporate the precious stone in their formal and casual looks.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
The chemical formation of the turquoise stone is a hydrated phosphate of copper along with aluminum. The formula for this gemstone is CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O. It belongs to the hexagonal crystal system. This stone comes into formation when chemicals such as aluminum and copper seep through large boulders and cool down causing the gemstone to form through crystallization. The stone is one tough cookie, with sturdiness up to 8 on Mohs scale of hardness.
HEALING PROPERTIES
Turquoises are one of the very few gemstones that raise the immunity levels of the body. Furthermore, other healing properties include the speedy reformation of tissues after injuries. This gemstone alleviates all aches and pains in the body by providing total relief and relaxation. Spiritually, turquoises are connected to the throat chakras. This connection enables those who wear it to develop their self-expression and communication skills. Ultimately, this opens an individual to newer opportunities and experiences. The fifth chakra helps to develop a mental and physical balance, creating alignment.
A 46.28 ct medium green blue turquoise free-form cabochon
WHERE ARE TURQUOISE FOUND?
Most of the turquoises in the world are present in the South western parts of the United States. They are also found in Chile, Mexico, China, Egypt, and Iran
TURQUOISE BIRTHSTONE CARE & CLEANING
Some turquoise is treated to improve its durability (it has a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6), appearance and polish. Turquoise can be dyed or chemically enhanced by adding an epoxy or acrylic resin for greater hardness or better color. Also seen are cavities filled with a metal-loaded epoxy to imitate pyrite inclusions.
In addition, turquoise is generally stable to light, but high heat can cause discoloration and breakage. Acids can damage your turquoise birthstone, and certain chemicals, cosmetics, as well as skin oils or perspiration, can discolor it. It’s safe to clean turquoise jewelry with warm, soapy water, avoid cleaning this December birthstone with steam or ultrasonic cleaners. Heat or solvents can damage the treated surfaces on some turquoise.
The intense blue turquoise beads in this necklace came from Arizona’s Sleeping Beauty mine.
TANZANITE BIRTHSTONE FOR DECEMBER
MEANING & HISTORY OF TANZANITE DECEMBER BIRTHSTONE
The modern birthstone for December is tanzanite. This gemstone is present in colours of grey, violet, pastel purple, and dark purple. They are also found in colours of yellow, brown, green, blue and pink. Though the shades of the gemstone are present in a large variety, the most expensive Tanzanites are those with a royal blue color, and they can range up to 600-700 dollars per carat. Yellow tanzanite’s are the rarest of their family and are very difficult to hunt down. The world’s most valuable tanzanite is present in Northern Tanzania and sells for 1200 dollars per carat.
HISTORY OF TANZANITE BIRTHSTONE
The history of tanzanite gemstone dates back to the late 1960s. Miners discovered them in the northern areas of Tanzania.. It was there that the local tribesmen found large blue stones and some transparent ones. At first glance, people mistakenly identified tanzanites as sapphire stones. After its chemical makeup was studied in depth, results showed that the stone is a new of its kind. Tanzanite’s are harder to find as compared to diamonds. According to gemmologists, these gemstones will be scarce in the next decade or so, which makes them a collector’s dream.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
The chemical makeup for this gemstone has calcium aluminium hydroxy silicate and belongs to the zoisite family. This stone is a 6.5 on Mohs scale of hardness, making it a moderately sturdy gemstone. They occur naturally in the Northern areas of Tanzania on Mount Kilimanjaro where the tectonic plates’ movement causes the hot rocks to merge and when they reach boiling point, the tanzanite crystals begin to form.
HEALING PROPERTIES OF TANZANITE DECEMBER BIRTHSTONE
Tanzanite stones aid in removing long-term illnesses and diseases such as high blood pressure. It reduces stress levels and relaxes the body. It helps eliminate negative energies and creates an environment of positivity in the
mind, body, and heart. Tanzanite stones are known to heal the feeling of depression by regulating the mood. It is also famous for improving the condition of hair and skin. Spiritually, this stone is related to the third eye, throat, and crown chakras. The third eye chakra helps provide higher powers of manifestation and, the ability to connect to oneself spiritually. The throat chakra aids in healing, by providing the ability to speak for things that create hindrances in peace. The root chakra helps raise self-esteem as well as keeping people grounded.
This 5.59 carat (ct) oval tanzanite is surrounded by 28 tapered baguettes and 12 round brilliant cut diamonds.
WHERE ARE TANZANITE FOUND?
These stones are some of the rarest and are only present in Tanzania. Therefore the production of this stone has decreased over time. Gemmologists believe that the stone will be hard to mine due to lack of availability, after one to two decades.
TANZANITE BIRTHSTONE CARE & CLEANING
Tanzanite’s are resistant to chemicals and heat but, immediate exposure to extreme temperatures can destroy the gemstone or fade its colour. If cleaning at home, dip it in some mild detergent with lukewarm water. Softly brush off any dirt and, Pat dry with a clean cloth to avoid scratches. Store in a fabric-lined box for maximum care. Try visiting a nearby jeweller once or twice a year to have your gemstone professionally cleaned. It will help in maintaining its lustre and shine.
In this beautiful special-occasion ring, a 4.91 ct tanzanite is protected by eight prongs and a regal frame of diamonds.
ZIRCON BIRTHSTONE FOR DECEMBER
The modern birthstone for December is zircon. These stones are present in colors of red, green, blue, orange, white, and yellow, with blue and green being the priciest of them all. However, the gold-colored ones sell at a lower cost. People often incorrectly label zircons as cubic zirconia, which is an unnatural stone. These gemstones can go up to a price of 300 dollars per carat because of their cut, color, and carat. At first glance, people mistook these stones for diamonds and sold them at the same price back in the days.
HISTORY OF ZIRCON BIRTHSTONE
Zircons go way back to when the earth came into existence around 9 billion years ago. In the olden days, these stones were famous as there were rumors that zircons had magic abilities to remove evil spirits and negative aura from the people around them. Many believe that these stones have either an Arabic or a Persian origin. In Arabic, people regarded these stones as zarkun, while in the Persian language, they called these stones zargun. This stone is present in the scriptures of the Bible. Religious leaders of Israel wear zircon as one of the famous stones.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
The chemical makeup for zircon is a white crystalline oxide and, the chemical formula for the stone is ZrSiO4. These gems form when the hot magma begins to cool down and, the process of crystallization occurs. Zircon is a 7.5 on Mohs scale of hardness, making it a sturdy gemstone.
HEALING PROPERTIES
Zircons possess a wide variety of healing properties that make a lot of people want to wear them. Those suffering from issues like insomnia can wear the stone for a good night’s sleep. This stone is also beneficial for regulating blood pressure as well and assisting the muscles recover after injuries. Spiritually, the stone is related to all the chakras, from the crown to the root. It helps understand oneself and the divine powers, along with aiding in better focus during meditation. Additionally It works to heal the heart from the inside out and keep an individual grounded. Zircons also motivate individuals to better themselves and progress successfully in life.
Zircon comes in a wide array of attractive colors.
WHERE IS ZIRCON FOUND?
These gems spread across the globe and are available in most countries. Zircons are present in most southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia. They are also naturally present in Brazil, India, and in the US in California.
ZIRCON BIRTHSTONE CARE & CLEANING
They are sensitive to heat and can crack when exposed to extreme temperatures. Mostly heat-treated, white and blue zircons are safe for use. Meanwhile If cleaning at home, dip it in some mild detergent with lukewarm water. Softly brush off any dirt and, Pat dry with a soft cloth to avoid scratches. Store in a fabric-lined box for maximum care. Try visiting a nearby jeweler once or twice a year to have your gemstone professionally cleaned. It will help in maintaining its luster and shine.
This blue zircon and diamond ring is handcrafted with a 6.59 carat emerald cut blue zircon center stone, accented by 0.76 carats of emerald cut tsavorite garnets, and 0.14 carats of brilliant diamond rounds set in 18K white gold. Courtesy: Omi Privé
Turquoise, tanzanite and zircon – you can choose from so many shades of blue when you’re born in December. You’ll also be able to pick gems that are bright red, yellow, green, purple and brown. Have fun looking for the perfect December birthstone that reflects your personality.