Below we have rated the birthstones according to their suitability for use in various types of jewelry, giving them ratings from "poor" to "excellent". If you’ve ever felt disgruntled about being a December baby and had your birthday lumped in with the holidays, your consolation is that you've got three gorgeous birthstones to choose from: tanzanite, turquoise, and zircon. Many couples are looking for color, or are looking for a stone other than diamond. Birthstones are gems – precious and semi precious – that are assigned to the birth month of an individual. Other gemstones of the month of December include ruby, onyx, chrysoprase and cat’s eye. December birthstones provide a vast choice of gems: Turquoise, Zircon, and Tanzanite as December birthstones, Beryl as month birth rock, Sapphire as special apostle birthstone for December, Emerald and Chalcedony as Sagittarius and Capricorn astral birth gems. Turquoise. The presence of matrix lowers the value of the gemstone. Montezuma II, an Aztec emperor, was also a fan of turquoise. It is a blue to blue green to yellowish green mineral that has been used as a gemstone for thousands of years. Each of the stones of December has one of a kind attributes that make it both important and alluring. The Persian turquoise tiara  was eventually passed down to Princess Margaret, who wore it until her death in 2002. All of these gems have hardness of 9 or 10, excellent durability, and are suitable for any use in jewelry. Although garnet is commonly associated with the color red, these gemstones can be found in almost any color and are popular choices for jewelry of all types. Basalt is an igneous rock that solidified from lavas erupted from volcanoes. For people born in December, they have 3 choices for their birthstone— the Turquoise, Tanzanite, and Zircon. If you want to find the highest quality turquoise gemstone, look for one that is Robin’s egg blue with a smooth texture and no signs of matrix. Image copyright iStockphoto / mikheewnik. August: lab-created spinel doublet substituting for peridot. The pearls in the photo are a white South Sea pearl, a black Tahitian pearl, and a gold South Sea pearl. The accompanying photo shows two cabochons of rainbow moonstone with a bright blue glow. Topaz is also coated to produce a range of iridescent colors and stones that appear to change color depending upon the angle at which they are viewed. Placed in a mounting that provides proper protection, these birthstones should be able to withstand decades of wear. .” Based on this translation, it’s assumed that the first turquoise gemstones were discovered in Turkey. Tanzanite was added as a modern birthstone in 2002. But, it did not stay in Turkey for long. Asymmetrical Custom Diamond and Gemstone Ring. Fair to Poor: Gems rated less than good have some defecit that makes them vulnerable to breakage or abrasion. August: Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx. In that case consider a colored diamond. Zircon is another gem that serves as a birthstone for the month of December. This gemstone’s name was derived from the French expression “pierre tourques,” which translates to “Turkish stone.” Based on this translation, it’s assumed that the first turquoise gemstones were discovered in Turkey. Many people are happy to pay the higher price for natural gems because they treasure gems that formed naturally within the Earth. What’s the Meaning of the Turquoise Birthstone? February: Amethyst. As an example, emerald is the birthstone for the month of May. In the southwestern United States, Native Americans were using turquoise over 2000 years ago. It has a yellowish green color and is one of the world's most popular and affordable green gems. It is the world's most popular gem. Its softness makes it more vulnerable to scratches and nicks, but it also makes turquoise ideal for carving. George Frederick Kunz, a mineralogist and gemologist who served as the Vice President of Tiffany & Company in the late 1800s, wrote in his book, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones: "The origin of the belief that to each month of the year a special stone was dedicated, and that the stone of the month was endowed with a peculiar virtue for those born in that month and was their natal stone, may be traced back to the writings of Josephus, in the first century of our era, and to those of St. Jerome, in the early part of the fifth century. Two are pink and green bicolor stones known as "watermelon tourmaline." The Aztecs believed it was sacred and made masks and other adornments for ceremonial purposes. Topaz is a birthstone for the month of November. Turquoise is a birthstone for the month of December. The blue topaz birthstone is believed to ensure long life, beauty and intelligence. It is believed that this stone influences persons physical condition, protects it from falling, from evil, and bring good fortune and happiness. These coated stones are called "mystic topaz". Agate healing properties is already mentioned as traditional May birthstone. December is honored with three birthstones, Turquoise, Zircon, and Tanzanite. However, because of their hardness they are subject to being scratched or abraded. Whether you’re looking for a turquoise birthstone ring, earrings, bracelet, or necklace, there’s sure to be a great choice available for any occasion. Natural yellow, black, and brown diamonds are very affordable. Bright blue turquoise is the most preferred color. Creative Commons photo of a gem from Barnes Jewelry, Helena, Montana, by Montanabw. The birthstone for the month of December, if your social life is taking a tumble, trust this opaque beauty to revive it. Photo by David Weinberg for Alexandrite.net and published here under a GNU Free Document License. Pearl (June), opal (October), and turquoise (December) all have a low hardness and are easily scratched. These December birthstones are mined around the world and all have their own unique take on the color blue, allowing you to choose the birthstone that best fits your style. December: Turquoise. Image copyright iStockphoto / wirachai moontha. It is the green variety of the mineral beryl. Most pearls in today's market are cultured pearls, which are very affordable when compared to natural pearls, and make a much nicer gift than imitation pearls. Shoppers can expect to find it in almost every jewelry store. The other personality characteristics connected to this stone are humility, generosity, and positive attitude toward life in general. Rare moonstones produce a blue or a multicolored glow. It was added to most birthstone lists in 1952. It is most often set into sterling silver jewelry. Tourmaline is not an original birthstone for October. Its softness makes it more vulnerable to scratches and nicks, but it also makes turquoise ideal for carving. The December birthstone is turquoise, which is a gorgeous blue-green stone with a rich history full of lore and legends. He gifted this gemstone to Hernan Cortes, a conquistador from Spain, because he mistakenly believed the man was Quetzalcoatl, a god who would rule over and protect the Aztec empire. Birthstones by Day of the Week . It occurs in a nice blue color that looks like sapphire. May: lab-created spinel doublet substituting for emerald. The buyer and the recipient of an emerald birthstone gift might be pleased with this option. Standardization of the birthstone list in 1912 was a good thing to do. It has a Mohs hardness of 9, just one step below diamond. Out of countless celebrities born in December, some include: Clearly, if you were born in December, you’re in great company! However, turquoise has a 5.0-6.0 rating, which means it is not nearly as durable as these other stones. Those born during December have multiple birthstones to choose from: blue topaz, tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise. It occurs in many other colors as well. These gems are garnet (January), amethyst (February), bloodstone (March), sardonyx (August), tourmaline (October), and citrine (November). It was once said that turquoise could cure breathing problems, heal infections, improve your vision, and fix depression or anxiety! "Tanzanite" is a trade name that was first used by Tiffany and Company for gem-quality specimens of the mineral zoisite with a blue color. Turquoise is a well known birthstone of the month of December. As an example, emerald is the birthstone for the month of May. Sardonyx is a banded variety of chalcedony that exhibits straight, parallel bands of white, black, orange, red, or brown chalcedony. So, people born in May have emerald as their birthstone. October: Opal, Tourmaline. There, ancient artists produced beads, pendants, inlay work, and small sculptures. Blue is the most popular zircon color. Turquoise is the traditional December birthstone. The gem shown here is a beautiful reddish purple amethyst from the Four Peaks Mine in Maricopa County, Arizona. Turquoise is the stone of peace, which is why most people that look at this bright blue birthstone feel calm and peaceful. Turquoise is the modern December birthstone and the accepted gem for the fifth and eleventh wedding anniversaries. Bright blue turquoise is the most preferred color. Turquoise is still an important part of Southwestern culture. See more turquoise jewelry. Opal is an original modern birthstone for the month of October. Good: A number of gems are durable enough for use in any type of jewelry. The accompanying image is a black opal from Australia, but there are also fire opals from Mexico, honeycomb opals from Ethiopia, and colorful common opals from Peru. So, you can choose your birthstone according to the day of the week you were born; and you can also choose a stone to wear according to the specific energy of the day. Just scroll down to find yours! Turquoise, tanzanite and zircon are the three birthstones for December. April: lab-created cubic zirconia substituting for diamond. January Birthstone - Garnet. They have a Mohs hardness of 7.5 or higher, which means that they will rarely come in contact with an object that will abrade them. Diamonds have a 10.0 rating on the Mohs Hardness Scale, and emeralds and rubies are not far behind with a 9.0 rating. with a rich history full of lore and legends. But, the concept of birthstone marketing has its critics. The best part is, turquoise jewelry is an inexpensive gemstone, which makes it easy to incorporate into both fashion and fine jewelry! It was added to most birthstone lists in 1952. December– Turquoise, Zircon, Tanzanite; Healing Powers and Therapeutic Influences. Turquoise is one of the oldest stones used throughout history by warriors, kings, shamans, and healers as a stone of protection. May: Emerald. You may also read more about this stone by checking my article about Agate Healing Properties and benefits. Natural blue topaz exists but it is very rare and very expensive. Birthstones serve as both a purchasing and marketing aid. Zircon replaced lapis lazuli as a modern birthstone in 1952. Lab-grown emeralds can be purchased at a small fraction of the cost of a natural emerald of similar size, color, and clarity. The primary December birthstone Turquoise is believed to be associated with success, happiness and prosperity. Others decide to purchase a more affordable lab-grown diamond. Much of the world's peridot is found in basalt flows. It has been a popular gemstone for at least two thousand years. This grade of tanzanite is often seen in mall and chain store jewelry. Each of these December birthstones are in … Some people love the striking contrast between the bright blue and the dark webbing, so these gemstones are still valuable. Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July and the world's most popular red gem. Turquoise is the official birthstone of December, which means that turquoise is thought to bring especially good luck to anyone born in December. Four Peaks is the most important amethyst mine in the United States. November: Topaz. Dispersion is the ability of a gem to act as a prism and separate light into its component colors - as shown by the diamond in the accompanying photo. About 80% of the zircons sold today are blue, with the color produced by treatment. In fact, it is one of the, This gemstone’s name was derived from the French expression “. Though the idea of birthstones has existed for thousands of years, the turquoise birthstone was officially assigned to December in 1912. as well. A birthstone is a gemstone that is generally held in any form of jewelry; they can be found in necklaces, pendants, or rings. Turquoise does not sparkle and shine like other gemstones, such as diamonds, rubies or emeralds, but that does not make it any less beautiful. These sets are popular birthday and graduation gifts. March: Aquamarine. Tanzanite, which was discovered only in 1967, was made an alternate birthstone for the month in 2002, while earlier in 1952, lapis lazuli was replaced in the U.S. by zircon as alternate birthstone for December. Many celebrities are lucky enough to have turquoise as their birthstone. The presence of matrix, which is the black, spider-web markings found on many of these gemstones. gem on its own that you simply can’t go wrong with turquoise jewelry. gem on its own that you simply can’t go wrong with turquoise jewelry. [3] It is likely that a larger number of people have given a birthstone jewelry gift and enjoyed seeing a delighted recipient. Queen Mary had a collection of, , including a dazzling tiara, necklace, brooch, and earrings. Peridot is a traditional birthstone for the month of August. It’s also said to represent strength, serenity, and creativity. To this day, turquoise remains … Moonstone is most often a white or gray color with a glow that is white or silvery - like the glow of the moon (that's how it got its name!). October: Opal. Many of them will likely be synthetic or lab-grown ruby. Others are happy with the great appearance and lower price of lab-created gems. These man-made alternative gems, along with sterling silver or low-carat gold mountings, provided three benefits: they (1) significantly reduced the cost of the item; (2) improved the size, color, and clarity of the stones that the buyer was able to afford; and, (3) allowed a better profit margin for sellers. Image copyright iStockphoto / mikheewnik. 5% coupon applied at checkout Save 5% with coupon (some sizes/colors)