December Birthstone Jewelry: Blue Topaz, Zircon, Tanzanite and Turquoise
Nov 22,2024 | Juyoyo
Since ancient times, gemstones have been endowed with mysterious colors and have become symbols of people's emotions and status. Unlike the single birthstone of other months, December boasts four brilliant birthstones: blue topaz, zircon, tanzanite, and turquoise. The serenity of blue topaz, the mystery of blue zircon, the dream of tanzanite, and the spirituality of turquoise tell a winter story. Join Juyoyo to learn more about the December birthstones and the perfect jewelry this month!
What is the Birthstone for December?
December has four birthstones:
- Blue Topaz: A clear gemstone known for its serene blue hue, it symbolizes loyalty, love, and good fortune.
- Tanzanite: A relatively expensive gemstone known for its unique violet-blue color, symbolizing transformation and change.
- Blue Zircon: A beautiful gemstone known for its bright and vivid blue color, symbolizing clarity and purity.
- Turquoise: A distinctive blue-green gemstone prized for its vivid color and unique appearance, symbolizing protection and healing.
What Does the December Birthstone Mean?
December has four birthstones: blue topaz, blue topaz, tanzanite, and turquoise. These four birthstones are believed to bring good luck, protection, and positive energy to those born in December. Each gemstone has a rich history and cultural significance and is valued for its beauty, symbolism, and metaphysical properties.
What is the Color of the December Birthstone?
The color theme for December birthstones is typically blue. December birthstones (blue topaz, blue topaz, tanzanite, and turquoise) are popular for their blue appearance.
Blue Topaz Birthstone
What is Blue Topaz?
Blue topaz is a modern December birthstone known for its serene blue color. It belongs to a variety of the mineral topaz, which is a silicate mineral that comes in a range of colors. Blue topaz can range in shades from pale sky blue to deep Swiss blue, with the most prized and valuable being a vibrant and intense blue color. London blue topaz is the specific topaz known for its deep and intense blue color. Its blue color comes from trace elements in the crystal structure, such as iron and chromium. Naturally occurring blue topaz is quite rare and usually has a very pale blue color and is often confused with aquamarine.
Continue reading: Blue Topaz vs. Aquamarine: Key Differences You Need to Know
Where is Blue Topaz found?
Blue topaz is found primarily in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Mexico, and the United States.
Why is Blue Topaz the December Birthstone?
Blue topaz is one of the modern birthstones associated with the month of December. It has become a popular alternative birthstone for the month because of its blue color, which is associated with winter and the holiday season.
What Does the Gemstone Blue Topaz Symbolize?
Blue topaz is believed to symbolize loyalty, wisdom, love, and happiness. Wearing blue topaz jewelry is said to help relieve stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil. The calming and soothing qualities of blue topaz are also considered beneficial during the festive and often hectic holiday season.
Blue Topaz Physical Properties
Properties | Value |
Color | Colorless, yellow, orange, brown, red, pink, blue, green. Most blue topaz is treated to enhance its color. |
Hardness | 8 (Mohs scale) (durable for everyday wear) |
Specific Gravity | 3.50 - 3.57 |
Refractive Index | 1.609 - 1.643 |
Luster | Vitreous (glassy) |
Crystal System | Orthorhombic |
Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
Blue Zircon Birthstone
What is Blue Zircon?
Blue zircon is also one of the modern December birthstone gemstones known for its intense blue color and brilliant sparkle. Zircon is a mineral belonging to the nesosilicate group and is a source of the metal zirconium. blue zircon is one of the most popular and sought-after varieties.
There is confusion point whether cubic zircon belongs to the zircon family. The answer is no! Zircon is a natural gemstone, while cubic zircon is a synthetic gemstone known for its diamond-like appearance.
Continue reading: Cubic Zirconia vs. Moissanite - The Ultimate Comparison
Where is Blue Zircon Found?
Blue Zircon is found primarily in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Australia, Tanzania, and Thailand. It can also be found in other locations around the world, including Brazil, Madagascar, and Vietnam.
What Does the Gemstone Blue Zircon Symbolize?
Blue Zircon represents clarity, purity, wisdom, insight, protection, prosperity, communication, and self-expression. Wearing blue zirconia jewelry can bring a sense of positivity and upliftment to the wearer.
Blue Zircon Physical Properties
Properties | Value |
Color | Blue (can also be colorless, yellow, brown, red, green) |
Hardness | 6.5 - 7.5 (durable for everyday wear) |
Refractive Index | 1.92 - 1.98 |
Specific Gravity | 4.6 - 4.7 |
Luster | Vitreous (glassy) |
Pleochroism | Strong |
Transparency | Transparent |
Crystal System | Tetragonal |
Tanzanite Birthstone
What is Tanzanite?
Tanzanite is also one of the modern birthstones for Dec. Tanzanite, "Gem of Generation," is considered one of the most valuable gemstones in the world. It was discovered relatively recently in 1967 in Tanzania, Africa. It is a variety of the mineral zoisite and is known for its stunning blue to violet-blue color, which can exhibit pleochroism, displaying different colors when viewed from different angles. Tanzanite is prized for its vivid and intense blue to violet-blue color, ranging from deep blue to purple hues.
Where is Tanzanite Found?
Tanzanite is a rare gemstone found only in a small mining area in Tanzania near Mount Kilimanjaro, the Merelani Hills of the Manyara Region in Tanzania. The limited supply of Tanzanite adds to its value and desirability.
What Does the Gemstone Tanzanite Symbolize?
Tanzanite symbolizes transformation, spiritual growth, healing, and protection. Tanzanite also has calming and soothing properties that help reduce stress and anxiety. Wearing tanzanite jewelry is said to offer protection from negative energies and bring inner peace to the wearer.
Tanzanite Physical Properties
Properties | Value |
Color | blue-violet |
Hardness | 6.5 (durable for everyday wear) |
Refractive Index | 1.69 - 1.70 |
Specific Gravity | 3.35 - 3.36 |
Luster | Vitreous |
Pleochroism | Strong (blue, violet, yellow-green) |
Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
Crystal System | Orthorhombic |
Turquoise Birthstone
What is Turquoise?
Turquoise is a traditional December birthstone gemstone known for its unique blue-green color, ranging from sky blue to greenish-blue shades. It is a phosphate mineral of copper and aluminum that is typically opaque with the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8-4H2O. This makes it exhibit a range of patterns and variations in color due to the presence of mineral impurities.
Turquoise is considered to be one of the oldest gemstones in human history. The word "turquoise" is derived from the French word "Pierre turquoise", which translates to "Turkish stone". This is because the gemstone was first brought to Europe via Turkey from the Middle East, specifically Iran (formerly Persia).
Where is Turquoise Found?
Turquoise is found in various places around the world, with significant deposits in countries such as the United States (particularly Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico), Iran, China, and Mexico, among others.
What Does the Gemstone Turquoise Symbolize?
Turquoise gemstones are often associated with protection, healing, communication, balance, harmony, friendship and loyalty. Wearing turquoise jewelry is believed to protect the wearer from negative energies, soothe the mind and body, and bring prosperity and success.
Turquoise Physical Properties
Properties | Value |
Color | Blue-green |
Hardness | 5-6 |
Refractive Index | 1.61 - 1.65 |
Luster | Waxy to vitreous |
Transparency | Opaque to translucent |
Crystal System | Triclinic |
Blue Topaz vs Blue Zircon vs Tanzanite vs Turquoise
Blue topaz, blue zircon, tanzanite, and turquoise are all December birthstones that come in shades of blue, but they have distinct differences in their properties, origins, and characteristics. Check out the key differences in the comparison chart below.
Feature | Blue Topaz | Blue Zircon | Tanzanite | Turquoise |
Color | Typically blue | Typically blue | Blue and violet | Blue-green |
Hardness | 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 5-6 |
Clarity | Often highly transparent | Range from eye-clean to slightly included | Range from eye-clean to slightly included | Usually opaque |
Origin | Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Mexico, US | Various locations, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam | Merelani Hills, Tanzania | US, Iran, China, Egypt, Tibet |
Symbolism | Wisdom, abundance, love, calm nerves | Clarity, purity, wisdom, insight, protection, prosperity, communication, self-expression | Transformation, spiritual growth, healing, protection | Protection, healing, communication, balance, harmony, friendship, loyalty |
Where Can I Buy December Birthstone Jewelry?
December birthstone jewelry such as December birthstone ring, December birthstone necklace and December birthstone earrings featuring turquoise, tanzanite, blue zircon or blue topaz can be found at Juyoyo Jewelry.
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