Birthstones are gemstones that represent each month of the year, carrying unique qualities and energies that resonate with individuals born in that period. These gems not only signify the month of one's birth but are also believed to confer specific benefits based on their inherent properties.
In January, garnet sparks passion for the new year, while March finds solace in aquamarine's calming presence. Amethyst benefits those born in February, while June embraces change with alexandrite's color-shifting charm, and November manifests optimism through citrine's sunny demeanour. Whether seeking self-expression with August's green peridot or emotional balance with October's opal and tourmaline, discovering your birth month's gem offers insights and guidance throughout life's journey.
December, marking new beginnings with Christmas and winter's onset, boasts three exquisite birthstones: Tanzanite, Turquoise, and Zircon. From Tanzanite's rare, mesmerizing blues to Turquoise's tranquil, ancient allure and Zircon's brilliant, fiery hues, these gems adorn jewelry such as rings, bracelets, and earrings with sparkle, while carrying rich histories and deep meanings. Join us as we explore the enchanting world of December's birthstones, uncovering their origins, unique properties, and captivating legends.
(From left to right) Turquoise, Tanzanite & Zircon are December's birthstones
December Zodiac Signs
December is shared by two zodiac signs: Sagittarius and Capricorn. Sagittarius season runs from December 1st to 21st. Sagittarians are adventurous, enjoy exploring diverse cultures, and seek knowledge. Their symbol, a half-human, half-horse figure, represents their boundless energy and wanderlust, with the bow and arrow symbolizing their ambition.
From December 22nd to 31st, it's Capricorn season. Capricorns are goal-driven, organized, and diligent. Their symbol combines a goat's upper body and a fish's tail, reflecting their ability to navigate both land and sea. Capricorns are determined to reach career peaks and maintain stability.
Everything You Need to Know About December Birthstones
December is unique in the realm of birthstones because it is associated with not just one but three beautiful gemstones: Tanzanite, Turquoise, and Zircon. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding these December birthstones.
1. Tanzanite
History & Significance of Tanzanite
Discovered in 1967 near Mount Merelani in Tanzania, tanzanite is a relatively new gemstone. Local Maasai herders first found the unusual blue crystals and alerted businessman Manuel d’Souza, who began mining them, initially mistaking them for sapphires. Analysis later identified the crystals as a rare blue variety of zoisite. Tiffany & Co. saw marketing potential in the gemstone and named it "tanzanite" to emphasize its Tanzanian origin. They launched a successful promotional campaign in 1968. Mining surged, with 2 million carats extracted before the Tanzanian government nationalized the mines in 1971.
Tanzanite Sources & Origins
All known tanzanite deposits are restricted to approximately eight square miles within the Merelani Hills, near the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and Arusha. This constrained geographic distribution makes the gemstone among the rarest gemstones. Since it cannot be sourced from other parts of the world, the supply is finite and dependent solely on mining this small area.
Rough tanzanite
Astrological Benefits of Tanzanite
- Health Benefits: Wearing Tanzanite jewelry, such as earrings, rings, or bracelets, is believed to offer numerous health benefits. Much like Amethyst, tanzanite helps improve skin and hair health, detoxifies the blood, strengthens the immune system, and aids in post-surgery recovery. Additionally, it also helps treat alcohol addiction, alleviate migraines, and reduce stress, fear, and anxiety, promoting overall well-being.
- Emotional Balance: It helps individuals who struggle with meeting new people or expressing their emotions, enabling them to manage their feelings and express themselves openly. Tanzanite enhances meditational practices by strengthening the chakras, improving concentration, and heightening intuition.
- Chakra Healing: Tanzanite stimulates the Crown Chakra, promoting consciousness and spirituality. Similar to stones like aquamarine and blue tourmaline, it aids the Throat Chakra by developing the inner voice and contributing to spiritual growth. Additionally, just like blue Amethyst, it strengthens the Third-Eye Chakra, enhancing intuition and psychic abilities.
How to Care for Tanzanite Jewelry
Gentle cleaning helps preserve their stunning appearance. Use a soft brush and warm, soapy water to remove dirt or debris from the gem's surfaces. Rinse well and air dry, avoiding vibrations that could harm the crystal structure. Avoiding strong chemicals or oils when caring for this gemstone is best. Harsh substances risk compromising the integrity of the stone and reducing its value over time.
Tanzanite jewelry is often sold at a premium
2. Turquoise
History & Significance of Turquoise
Turquoise has a rich history dating back to ancient Egypt around 3000 BCE, where it was used in tombs and jewelry. Egyptians, who saw it as joyous like the sky, carved it into scarabs and used it lavishly, including on King Tut's burial mask. The oldest mines were in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula near a temple to the love goddess Hathor. Ancient Persians also valued turquoise for its protective properties, often engraving Arabic script on pieces they wore. Introduced to Europe via the Silk Road, the French named it "turquoise," meaning Turkish stone. Pre-Columbian Native Americans extensively mined turquoise in the southwestern U.S., crafting masks, weapons, and ceremonial objects, making it a valuable trade item for cultures like the Aztecs.
Turquoise stones
Turquoise Sources & Origins
Turquoise forms through a natural geologic process where slightly acidic groundwater interacts with subsurface copper deposits. This reaction precipitates microscopic crystals containing hydrated copper and aluminium phosphates that unite to comprise veins or nuggets of the stone within host rocks.
Notable locations where turquoise has been extracted include Russia, China, Iran, as well as many parts of the southwestern United States. Significant historical mining sites span regions such as Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, southern California, and New Mexico - areas well-known for once-abundant deposits of blue-green mineralization.
Astrological Benefits of Turquoise
- Physical Health Benefits: Turquoise possesses potent healing properties, aiding conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, migraines, and viral infections. It supports recovery from illness and alleviates stress and fatigue by enhancing digestion, nutrient absorption, and toxin elimination.
- Mental Health Benefits: The gemstone wearer nurtures mental and emotional well-being, easing anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. It offers solace during challenging times and promotes inner harmony and resilience.
- Financial Benefits: Known for enhancing financial decision-making, turquoise opens pathways to economic abundance and safeguards against financial setbacks.
- Protection Properties: Renowned for its protective abilities, turquoise shields against negativity, the evil eye, and misfortunes during travel, similar to garnet. It serves as a potent talisman against adversity, including magic and witchcraft.
- Career Benefits: Ideal for creative professions, the gemstone stimulates creativity and imagination, benefiting artists, writers, musicians, and consultants alike.
- Spiritual Benefits: Turquoise is a spiritual talisman that aligns with all chakras, facilitating spiritual growth, intuition, and mystical knowledge. It harmonizes pranic energy flow and aids in chakra healing.
- Chakra Healing: The gemstone harmonizes all chakras, particularly benefiting the Throat and Heart Chakras, promoting clear expression and emotional balance.
How to Care for Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise is a softer gemstone. So, the jewelry requires careful handling, be it earrings or rings made with the gem. It can get scratched or damaged in rugged conditions, so avoid wearing it during manual labor like dishwashing, cleaning, or gardening. Clean with a warm water wipe and a soft cloth. Avoid harsh jewelry cleaners. For protection, store turquoise pieces separately from harder gemstones to prevent scratches and damage.
Turquoise is often fashioned into fancy jewelry
3. Zircon
History & Significance of Zircon
Zircon, the oldest mineral on Earth at over 4.4 billion years old, has undergone extensive geological changes due to its unique chemical composition. Widely distributed in the Earth’s crust and sedimentary deposits, zircon gems contain trace uranium that gradually alters their color over millions of years. This characteristic enables zircon to preserve a microscopic record of our planet’s history. Throughout history, various cultures ascribed mystical powers to these gemstones, believing they could induce sleep, ward off evil, and bring prosperity. By the late 1800s, blue zircons adorned English estates, while smoky varieties were used in mourning jewelry. In the 1920s, heat treatments began enhancing zircon's colors for use in both adornment and decorative ceramics.
Zircon Sources & Origins
Many of the highest quality zircon gemstones are recovered from river and stream gravels located in Southeast Asia. Countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka have historically yielded water-worn zircon pebbles prized for jewelry and ornamental use. Beyond this region, noteworthy deposits supplying the gemstone trade have been found in other locations such as Myanmar (Burma), Madagascar, and Tanzania in Africa and Brazilian territories in South America.
A Cut & Polished Blue Zircon
Astrological Benefits of Zircon
- Marriage & Relationship Benefits: Zircon, a gemstone governed by Venus, is renowned for addressing marriage-related issues, such as delays and difficulties in finding suitable partners. It enhances marital bliss by fostering love and mutual understanding, especially when Venus is weak in one's horoscope.
- Health Benefits: It treats hormonal, urinary, and reproductive disorders, aids recovery from various ailments, and eases dizziness and muscle issues.
- Financial & Social Benefits: Similar to alexandrite, it boosts financial prosperity, good fortune, and career progression, enhancing confidence and social acceptance.
- Creative & Professional Benefits: It stimulates creativity and is ideal for arts, writing, and public relations, enhancing motivation and responsibility.
- Holistic Benefits: Zircon brings physical, emotional, and spiritual balance. It purifies the heart, unblocks energies, and fosters harmony. This gemstone encourages curiosity about science and the pursuit of truth.
- Benefits for Women: It particularly benefits women by enhancing relationships and providing superiority. It strengthens pregnant women physically and mentally, aids concentration in studies, supports meditation practices and helps turn dreams into reality.
How to Care for Zircon Jewelry
Zircon requires gentle care due to its poor durability compared to other gems. Clean it every few months with warm, soapy water and dry it fully before storage in a soft cloth or pouch to prevent scratches. Ultrasonic cleaners may damage it, and direct sunlight should be limited as zircon is UV-sensitive. Remove jewelry for outdoor activities and tasks involving chemicals, impacts, or household chores to avoid exposure that could harm the sensitive stone.
While each birthstone carries its mystical energies and benefits, those linked with December hold profound significance. As the month marks the transition from one year to the next, December encourages reflection on the past and inspires hope for new beginnings. Tanzanite, Turquoise, and Zircon are ideal talismans for navigating this seasonal shift, guiding both inner exploration and outward changes. Additionally, secondary December birthstones, like blue topaz, offer further avenues for personal connection and adornment.
Precious Earth offers a collection showcasing the splendour of these birthstones in jewelry, capturing their healing energies. Browse to discover more and find the perfect piece imbued with meaning to mark your December celebration or birthday. Not only that, you can explore gemstones such as garnet, aquamarine, sapphire, citrine, opal, amethyst and more from our collection. May the magic of these special stones bring wonder and joy this season.
