December – Ending The Year With Three Birthstones.
Every month of the year has a special gem associated with it called a birthstone. These are
all unique and come in varied different styles and meanings. If you are born in December
then luckily for you, you have the choice of three different stones called Zircon, Tanzanite
and Turquoise. Each of these stones come in many different styles and colours. They all have
their own history and meanings ,but how lovely to end the year with a month that has three
precious stones associated with it?
The Meaning and History Of The Turquoise Stone
The turquoise stone ranges from the colour green to blue and is semi-translucent. This
precious gem has been around for over a millennium. The Chinese artisans carved these
stones over 3,000 years ago whilst the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs adorned themselves in
these stones. The stunning Turquoise stone is said to hold many mystical powers. It is
believed to give the wearer good fortune and guarantee the wearer good health.
Tanzanite is the newer of the December birthstone choices and was only discovered in the
20 th century. This stone is deep in colour and is often described as velvety. The Tanzanite
comes in a variety of colours from pure rich blue to striking violet. The blue shades are
considered the most valuable. Tiffany & co become its main distributor making it an
international sensation.
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The Meaning and History of the Zircon Birthstone
it is not fully known where this Zircon birthstone originated from, and it has caused many
debates. There are some Scholars believe it comes from the Arabic word Zurkan, whilst
others claim its from the Persian word zargun meaning “gold coloured”. This stone comes in
a broad arrangement of colours from Red, Yellow, Brown, Orange, blue and green.
In the middle ages, they believed the Zircon stone lulled you into a deeper sleep and scared
off any evil spirits. The Hindu’s wore this within a combination of 9 gems to protect the
wearer and bring them good health, wealth and wisdom.
Where is the Turquoise stone found?
The Turquoise stone has been found in the Nishapur region of Iran for over a 1,000 years,
the special colour of the stones in this district has earned it the name of “robins egg blue”,
“sky blue” and “Persian blue”. Up until the 1920s, New Mexico in the U.S was the biggest
producer of this stone however this December birthstone is now more commonly found in
Arizona and Nevada.
Where is Tanzanite found?
This stone is named after the location in which it was found, in the Merelani Hills of
Tanzania. Miners dig over 300 feet into the mountainside to produce these stones, and
thousands of workers are involved in this mass production.
Where is Zircon found?
This birthstone is found in Sri Lanka, which is rich with many other amazing gems and
stones. You can also source the Zircon stone in Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Looking After Your December Birthstones
Some of the Turquoise stones are treated to improve its durability as it only rates a 5 to 6 on
the Mohns scale of hardness. The turquoise stone should be cleaned with warm soapy
water, and great care should be taken as high-temperature changes can cause some
discolouration or breakage.
The Tanzanite rates higher reaching 6 to 7 on the Mohns scale, so is a lot more durable and
hard-wearing and perfect for daily wear. You should still be careful to avoid very high
temperatures and store correctly to avoid scratches.
The zircon stone is also very durable rating 6 to 7.5 on the Mohns scale, it can easily scratch
though so wearing should be avoided when gardening, playing sports or washing dishes.
It is always recommended you get professional advice about the best way to store and look
after your jewellery.
Choosing A Birthstone To Buy
The tanzanite stone is not just a birthstone but is also given on the 24 th wedding anniversary.
It is best suited to pendants or earrings and but will make the most attractive special
occasion piece of jewellery.
All of these stones are very beautiful with an amazing variety of different colour which
means when it comes to picking a piece of jewellery you will have even more to choose
from. You will be spoilt for choice with three different birthstones to choose from,
whichever one you decide on you will end up with a stunning piece of jewellery for daily
wear or special occasions.
