Happy BIRTHDAY December Babies!
December Birthstones
If you had to pick one December birthstone, which would it be: tanzanite, turquoise or zircon? From the blue to bluish purple of tanzanite, to the intense blue and green of turquoise, to the rainbow varieties of zircon – there’s a color for everyone. If blue is what you’re looking for, all three December birthstones have their own unique take on this favorite hue.
Most people think of a bright sky blue when they think of Zircon, but it is also available in beautiful earth tones of green, dark red, yellow, brown and orange. Today, the most popular colors of Zircon are the vivid blue and bright Caribbean Sea colors. In the Middle Ages, Zircon was said to aid in resting, bringing prosperity, honor and wisdom to its owner. Zircon’s spectrum of beautiful colors, its rarity and its affordability have all contributed to its popularity today. Some gem collectors seek out Zircon from different locations, capturing gems in every color of the rainbow — colorless, green, blue, yellow, brown, orange, dark red and everywhere in between.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a one-of-a-kind gemstone unlike any other and can only be found in one place on Earth: the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. This gem possesses an exotic velvety blue with a rich overtone of purple, making for a color that is truly unlike any other. Tanzanite is one of today’s most popular blue gemstones and comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and striking colors. Tanzanite is rarely pure blue and almost always displays its signature overtones of purple. In smaller sizes, Tanzanite usually contains lighter tones and a lavender color while larger sizes typically display a deeper, richer and more beautiful blue.
Turquoise is among the oldest known gemstones and its popularity has spanned the globe for centuries. It graced the necks of Egyptian Pharaohs and adorned the ceremonial dress of early Native Americans. This beautiful robin’s egg blue gemstone has been attributed with healing powers, status and wealth, protection from evil and good luck. Turquoise is an opaque, light- to dark-blue or blue-green gem with its finest color being an intense blue. Turquoise may contain narrow veins of other materials either isolated or as a network. They are usually black, brown or yellowish-brown in color. Known as the matrix, these veins of color are sometimes in the form of an intricate pattern, called a spider web.
