December Birthstones

There are a few months that have turned into a free-for-all when it comes to birthstones. December is one of them. December has not one, not two, but three modern birthstones. Luckily, there is a theme associated with them, and it is quite an appropriate theme. For December, we will be looking at Turquoise, Zircon & Tanzanite. What do these all have in common? They all have mesmerizing blue hues.

Before continuing, we note that Blue Topaz has recently begun to crop up as a December birthstone. As you can see here in our review, Topaz is a November birthstone. While we understand people’s desire to group the blue variant of the stone with December, given the plethora of blue stones already claiming December as their birth month, we feel it is a bit silly to add one more. As such, we will not be discussing Blue Topaz here but in November. Ultimately, remember that most of these connotations and lists are simple ways to get people passionate about a particular gemstone and purchase more. The important thing is to feel comfortable buying whatever sparks your interest and makes you happy. With that out of the way, back to December.

Blue is a color routinely found throughout the gemological world. While its placement can vary, it feels justified to be attributed to December. Why December? The beginning of winter, of course. We all know that winter brings fluffy white snow and cool, crystalline blue ice. Just think of the most popularized winter figure over the past 20-years, Disney’s Elsa. She is draped in cool blue hues that instantly give away her icy powers. As such, she could take full advantage of beautiful gemstone jewelry featuring Turquoise, Zircon & Tanzanite.

As we’ve seen in other months, modern birthstone selections are well crafted. While the blue connotations in match perfectly for December, midcentury birthstones can differ significantly. In this case, the midcentury December birthstones include Bloodstone & Ruby. Each of these has been reimagined in modern times, with Bloodstone becoming a March birthstone and Ruby becoming July’s only birthstone.

Follow along as we look deeper into Turquoise, Zircon & Tanzanite and detail what makes each gemstone unique and the similarities that bring them together for December.

Turquoise

Formed through the accumulation of minerals including copper, aluminum, and iron, Turquoise is a unique gemstone as it is not completely translucent. Instead, Turquoise is predominantly found in an opaque to semi-translucent state with degrees of veining referred to as a “matrix.” The veining is caused by the surrounding stones that were present when the Turquoise was created and thus can vary in color from black to brown or grey. Because of this, it is challenging to find pure Turquoise.

Turquoise’s most prominent modern producer is China, although the gem has been mined worldwide, including the United States, Mexico, South America, and the middle east. It is thought that the name Turquoise is derived from the gem being brought to Europe through Turkish routes. With such a historical legacy, it is no surprise that the gem has been used as jewelry since at least 4000 BC. With hypnotic hues as “robin’s egg blue,” “sky blue,” and “Persian blue,” millennia of nobility have cherished Turquoise jewelry.

A relatively soft gemstone, Turquoise has a Mohs rating of 5.5 to 6. However, there are additional issues present that make the gem rather delicate. Due to the Matrix structure and porosity of the stone, the vast majority of Turquoise is treated with either an injection of clear epoxy resin or color enhancement. Both treatments are a normal part of processing Turquoise and do not detract from its value. However, given the softness of the gem and the varying alterations, owners must be cognisant of damaging the Turquoise when cleaning. It is recommended that Turquoise only be cleaned with warm, soapy water and should not be subjected to any harsh chemicals, acids, steam, or ultrasonic cleaners.

Turquoise can be found in any number of jewelry applications. Take this Monica Rich Kosann Petite Turquoise and Mother of Pearl Locket from Blue Nile, the available size and color of the gem lend itself to applications such as pendants, brooches, and rings.

Turquoise has several attributes beyond its beauty. With such an extended jewelry tradition, the gem is associated with numerous spiritual and healing properties. While the exact characteristics can vary given the region or epoch in which Turquoise was used, as a general basis, the gem is considered a protective stone. It can grant the user protection against evil, danger, and disease while dispelling negative energy and protecting from evil. It is believed that it can bring the wearer enhanced intuition while releasing inhibitions. Thus, Turquoise is a favorite of expressive individuals looking for creative solutions and inner confidence. Above all, though, it is a dazzling and unique stone that can be utilized in all manner of jewelry.

Zircon

While Turquoise is the most recognized December birthstone, it’s not alone. Zircon, the world’s oldest mineral, is also recognized as a December birthstone. Zircon found in Australia has been dated back 4.4 Billion years. While Zircon can be mined from numerous places, it has been found most abundantly in Sri Lanka and Australia. While the most popular color of Zircon is blue, this gem can be found in Blue, red, yellow, orange, brown, green, and most interestingly, a colorless variant that is sometimes easily confused for a diamond.

While being confused for a diamond is understandable given Zircon’s appearance and inner radiance, from a physical perspective, it is nowhere close. Zircon comes in at a Mohs hardness of 6 to 7.5. Thus, while it is a reasonably durable gem, it is not the strongest and can chip from its exterior facets. Additionally, given that heat treatments are common to produce more desirable blue variants, it is recommended that the gem not be exposed to more extreme environments or ultrasonic cleaning. Your best results when cleaning Zircon will be soapy water and friendly, soft bristles.

Although Zircon is not the most popular modern gem, there still is a market for them, and certain hues are more desirable. Unfortunately, it is also a relatively rare gem to mine with a limited supply. Thus, most examples will be small in size. A 1-carat gem will generally be the largest you’ll find in mainstream jewelers.

Zircon brings with it much more than just its beauty. A favorite of middle age and Victorian cultures, Zircon has several healing attributes, including sound sleep, warding off evil, and bringing prosperity and wisdom. Thus, while it may not be on your gemstone radar, be sure to include Zircon in your next jewelry search.

Tanzanite

Bringing up the rear of the December birthstone triumvirate is Tanzanite. Tanzanite, as the name implies, was discovered in Tanzania in 1962. A fascinating gemstone, Tanzanite is one of the newest stones used in jewelry, given its 20th-century discovery. This deep blue gem is strictly found in the Merelani Hills in Tanzania, which is a fitting location since the snowcovered peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen from the mines—further cementing the association between December snow and December birthstones. This single source is an essential issue as there is a finite supply of Tanzanite. While how much of the stone is left can be argued, most experts predict a near-to-total depletion in 10 to 20 years. The mining of Tanzanite will almost certainly be lost by the next century.

We recently picked up a pair of earrings like this 14K White Gold Oval Tanzanite Earrings 2.63 Carats from Tanzanite Jewelry Designs. Items like these can really bring out the deep hue of the gem and why it’s been so popular in recent times.

Tanzanite is remarkable in more ways than just its recent discovery. Said to bring the wearer a calming and soothing experience, Its color is most often described as velvety and genuinely needs to be seen to be appreciated. Ranging from a deep blue to purple, Tanzanite can also pick up shades of red and pink. Tanzanite benefits from an optical attribute called pleochroism, the ability of the mineral to absorb different wavelengths of transmit light depending upon its crystallographic orientations. Pleochroism affords the gem the ability to display different colors depending on the angle of vision. The side effect of this phenomenon is that Tanzanite needs to be appropriately cut to highlight this ability. The 424 Carat Namunyak Tanzanite, probably the world’s most famous example, personifies this color change by displaying a deep blue hue from above, purple from one side, and red from the other.

Almost all Tanzanite used for jewelry purposes is heat-treated, as the gem comes out of the ground with a brownish tone. The treatment is perfectly acceptable and is a permanent alteration. Unfortunately, Tanzanite is relatively soft in terms of gems, with a Mohs rating between 6 and 7. As such, the GIA recommends that the stone be mounted as earrings or pendants. Additionally, Tanzanite is susceptible to acids and sudden temperature changes. The sum effect is a delicate jewel that needs to be washed only with soapy water and gently taken care of. Tanzanite should not be used as an everyday gem, nor should it ever be ultrasonic or steam cleaned.

LOOKING FOR AN ENGAGEMENT RING?

Let us help you navigate birthstones and all the nuances that make buying a ring daunting. Contact us, and we will walk you through all the nuances that make buying an engagement ring daunting with our one-on-one help.