What is December’s Birthstone?

Winter birthdays can be tricky to shop for. With Christmas falling in December, it’s often hard to find something truly special that stands out among all the festive treats. Luckily, those born in December have not one, but three birthstones, making jewellery an excellent choice for a birthday gift. You’re guaranteed to find a gift that complements their style.

What are December’s birthstones?

December’s Birthstones are Tanzanite, Turquoise and Zircon, three stunning gems in varying shades of decadent blue. Beautiful and bold, December’s birthstones stand out against festive reds, greens and golds. 

Tanzanite: December’s newest Birthstone

Tanzanite, named after its country of origin, Tanzania, was first discovered at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and introduced to the market in 1967. Despite being one of the rarest gemstones in the world, tanzanite is surprisingly affordable. Its deep violet blue tones and rich sparkle have made it a favourite for jewellery lovers. Tanzanite is an excellent choice for a special December birthday present and due to its rarity, it makes an ideal family heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation. 

What does tanzanite mean?

Although relatively new to the wider world, tanzanite holds deep symbolic and spiritual significance. Among the Maasai people of northern Tanzania, the stone is gifted to women after childbirth to bless both mother and child with prosperity and new life.

Tanzanite is associated with the third eye chakra, representing intuition, imagination, and wisdom. Its deep indigo hues symbolise peace and harmony, making it a perfect gift for someone seeking stress relief and tranquillity.

Turquoise: An ancient stone with a mystical backstory

While tanzanite has only been used in jewellery for 50 years, turquoise has a rich history spanning 5000 years! Archaeologists have uncovered turquoise jewellery dating back to 3000 BC in Egypt. 

This beautiful blue-green stone often features a matrix of black or brown veins running through it. Turquoise has been found across the globe, with significant use in jewellery, burial masks and mosaics. It was also revered as a sacred stone and used in protective talismans. 

Turquoise is a relatively soft stone, scoring 5-6 on the Mohs scale, which means it is more susceptible to scratches and knocks. It’s also porous, so it makes a poor choice for daily wear.  

What does turquoise mean?

Turquoise is widely regarded as a protective stone, shielding its wearers from negative energy. Its calming turquoise colour depicts an aura of serenity and is said to evoke emotional balance, making it an excellent choice of gift for someone who has experienced a turbulent time and is looking for a period of self reflection and inner peace. 

Across history, many civilisations have linked turquoise to elements of sky and water, such as;

• Native American cultures: Apache, Navajo and Zuni groups hold turquoise in esteem as a sacred stone. Turquoise represents harmony between the earth and the sky. Turquoise was used in rituals to bring weather changes and protect warriors and hunters.

• Persia: Turquoise was known in ancient Persia to ward off the evil eye and was used in temples and palaces to bring good fortune to those in attendance. 

• Aztec and Inca Culture: In South America, turquoise was seen as a tool used to communicate with the spiritual world.

Zircon: The oldest mineral on Earth

Not to be confused with Cubic Zirconia, Zircon is a naturally occurring mineral. Stones found in Western Australia have been as old as 4.4 billion years. While Zircon comes in shades of green, yellow, brown, red and practically every colour of the rainbow, its most popular iteration is a vibrant bright blue. 

While Zircon is a hard stone, scoring between 6-7.5 on the Mohs scale, it can chip easily. It can also be made more brittle if it has been treated with heat to enhance its colour. 

Zircon enjoyed waves of popularity in the Victorian era as the versatile jewel was incorporated into ornamental designs. 

What does Zircon mean?

Zircon is associated with meditation and its varying colours of the rainbow can represent change and ambition. Scientifically, zircon is much more significant; it helped to determine the age of the Earth and provided important insights about its earliest history. Zircon deposits preserve small amounts of uranium-lead, which provide scientists with a snapshot of the Earth’s conditions billions of years ago. 

How can Shining Diamonds help?

With December just around the corner, our expert team is on hand to help you nail the perfect birthday gift for your loved one. We have stores across the country, in London, Brighton and Birmingham, book an appointment with our friendly team today.