People born in December are fortunate enough to have four different birthstones to choose from – all of them equally beautiful and alluring.
Tanzanite, turquoise, and zircon have held precedence as the allocated December birthstones for years, but blue topaz recently joined the list of stunning wintery gems. All of these December stones take on a unique shade of blue, ranging from deep cobalt to tender Robin’s egg.
Some of these crystals register as the oldest scientists have ever discovered, and others were only revealed to us in the past 100 years.
Regardless of age or hue, each of these precious stones offer something unique and beautiful to those of us lucky enough to be born in December.
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What are the December Birthstones?
The four December birthstones are tanzanite, turquoise, zircon and blue topaz. There has been some controversy around whether or not blue topaz is in fact a December stone, but recently authorities have deemed it worthy of the official December birthstone collection.
Besides the birth month that they are all assigned to, what ties each of these special crystals together is their colour: each stone possesses a vivid blue.
The shade, intensity, and depth of each stone’s blue is unique unto itself, with each one reflecting a different portion of the blue colour spectrum.
Many people wonder about the origin of birthstones and how they came to represent different months of the year. The answer lies deep in history, with religious texts such as the Bible describing holy armoury adorned with 12 distinct gemstones set in rows of four by three.
The 12 gemstones were initially used to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Later on, Polish scholars of the 18th century began associating the precious gems with the Zodiac signs, and the rest is history.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is considered the first official birthstone for December. The most recently discovered crystal of the collection, tanzanite was first mined in Tanzania in the 20th century, and has been a clear favourite ever since.
This stone is immediately identifiable by its rich, royal blue colour, overlaid by tones of purple and indigo. The overall effect of this colour combination makes tanzanite’s hue appear rich and velvety.
Over the years, tanzanite has become a symbol for intuition, perception, and heightened self-awareness. It is often associated with the crown and third eye chakras.
Turquoise
Meaning “stone from Turkey”, this December birthstone is an example that opacity can be just as beautiful as translucence. Displaying a solid, consistent shade of robin’s egg blue, the greenish aquamarine tone of turquoise has become synonymous with sentiments of peace and vitality.
Turquoise’s unusual colour has magnetized much attention since its discovery in north-eastern Persia in 4000 B.C., and continues to be a popular choice for modern jewelry today.
Web-like veins of brownish copper often run through the sky blue stone, referred to as the “matrix” by turquoise analysts and setting it apart from similarly coloured crystals.
Zircon
This sci-fi sounding name is appropriate for the out-of-this-world beauty that this December stone is known for. Closely resembling a diamond in its transparent form, zircon comes in a range of colours including blue, red, brown, green and gold.
The sparkling exterior of zircon is glass-like and highly reflective, giving it a multi-dimensional effect. Many cultures associate blue zircon with prosperity and wisdom.
The shade of blue most commonly produced by zircon is oceanic and similar to a sapphire. As ancient as the earth’s crust, zircon stones have been found in Australia that are 4.4 billion years old.
Blue Topaz
The latest addition to the December birthstone collection, blue topaz is often confused with aquamarine due to its crisp, cold blue colouration.
Resembling the sky on a brisk winter’s day, we think blue topaz is more than deserving of being added to the assortment of December stones that people around the world know and love.
Mined predominantly in Brazil, Sri Lanka and China, cool blue topaz has become associated amongst various cultures as a powerful symbol for love and fidelity.
What Birthstone Color is December?
The birthstone colours for December are unequivocally blue and violet. All four of the December birthstones are a different shade of blue, with tanzanite bringing in hues of lilac and indigo to balance it out.
Each month of the year has its own assigned colour and birthstone(s). December’s tanzanite, turquoise, zircon and blue topaz all emulate dreamy variations of blue, and can be largely associated with divine connection and royalty.
Why Does December Have Multiple Birthstones?
Traditionally, each one of the twelve months in our modern calendar year are assigned one birthstone, but some months have been assigned multiples.
June, October, and November all have two assigned birthstones each, but December has four – more than any other month of the year.
The exact reason behind why December has been attributed so many birthstones is unknown, but some people claim it is simply to introduce more affordable birthstone options to the public.
Crystals and precious gems can be very costly, and so the decision to add multiple birthstone options is said to have been done out of respect for lower-income individuals who could not afford the birthstone their month was originally assigned.
Now that there are a multitude of birthstones assigned to certain months, people are provided with more options when buying jewelry that reflects their birth month.
What is the Most Expensive December Birthstone?
The most expensive December birthstone out there is typically tanzanite – at least, when it comes in blue. Blue tanzanite is widely considered a pricy gem, but one look will convince you of its worth.
While it is true that tanzanite prices will vary depending on both the source, size, and quality of the gemstone, the average price of tanzanite ranges between £100 to £1,100, or higher.
Whichever December birthstone you choose to adorn, it isn’t likely to come cheap. However, the price paid for any high-quality December stone will be insignificant by comparison to their everlasting beauty.
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.