Are you a December baby? December birthdays can sometimes lose some of their attention due to the craziness of the holiday season, but we haven’t forgotten you! December babies have three beautiful birthstones to choose from; Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise. Let’s look a little deeper at what’s behind these stones:
Tanzanite:
This bluish-purple stone is one of the newest to be discovered and is only available in one part of the world, Tanzania, making it rare and extremely coveted. The color of tanzanite can range from a pale blue to an intense blue with violet undertones that can rival sapphire.
A softer stone, it is recommended that you wear tanzanite as a necklace or earrings, but with proper care, a tanzanite will look beautiful no matter how you wear it.
Zircon:
A beautiful yet underrated stone, zircon is affordable and comes in a variety colors- spanning red, orange, yellow, green, blue and brown, making it a good choice for many pieces in a collection.
Zircon is the oldest mineral on earth, dating back more than 4.4 billion years. During the Middle Ages, people believed zircon could induce sound sleep, ward off evil and bring prosperity. Blue zircon, in particular was popular during Victorian times and frequently adorned English estate jewelry from the 1880s.
Blue zircon is still the most common among buyers, but if you want to start a collection of beautiful and colorful gemstones, zircon is a great choice.
Turquoise:
Admired since ancient times, turquoise is known for its distinct color, which ranges from powdery blue to a greenish robin’s egg blue.
The earliest evidence of turquoise comes from ancient Egyptian tombs which contain elaborate turquoise jewelry dating back to 3000 BCE. They used turquoise in everything from rings and necklaces, to ornamental pieces and art. It’s no wonder that the Egyptians called the stone mefkat, which meant “joy” and “delight”.
Ancient Persians also decorated extensively with turquoise believing it offered protection. Native Americans used it in sacred ceremonies to communicate with the spirit of the sky and attached it to their bows to improve a hunter’s accuracy.
Now, it is a beautiful stone used in many modern, sleek jewelry designs. When purchasing turquoise jewelry, keep in mind that it is a softer stone and is sensitive to sunlight and solvents like makeup and perfumes.
