December Birthstones

Like many of the other months, December proudly boasts three birthstones: turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite. These three precious stones are beautiful in color and they all make jewelry pop. Like all other birthstones, these three have unique histories.


Turquoise in Robin’s Egg Blue


Turquoise is one of the most recognizable precious stones. It is also one that has been appreciate for centuries. In today’s world, it is recognized as a part of Native American culture and it often included in ceremonial outfits and accessories. The gem resembles robin’s eggs blue and usually includes veins of other colors. The veins are called the “matrix” and many pieces of turquoise are prized for their unique patterns. Many people believe that the beautiful turquoise stone provides the wearer with protection from evil. The stone is also known to bring good luck to the owner, too.


Zircon in Several Different Colors

Zircon is another lovely stone, but it is not as well known as turquoise. Zircon comes in a variety of colors that can range from yellow to green and even brown. Many zircons are actually found on beaches and in alluvial deposits. Now, the most popular color for zircons is blue, which was developed by heating up the yellow and golden colored stones until they reached the desired shade of blue. These stones are heated in an oxygen-free oven to reach the shade. Despite the fact that blue is the most popular color, the rarest and most valued is red. The colorless zircons are often used in the same way as diamonds - to the untrained eye, zircons can pass as diamonds. But, jewelers and gemologist can easily determine the difference with a quick test. Unfortunately, zircons are brittle, so they must be treated with care.


Throughout history, zircons have been a part of many stories from in Arabia and India. The Hindus believed the green zircon represented the Kalpa Tree. The zircon was mentioned in the story Arabian Nights. Travelers in the 11th century used zircons to protect against diseases and injury. And in later centuries, the zircon was said to protect against the Black Death. This is a lovely gem that deserves to be respected in today’s world.


Tanzanite in Several Shades of Blue


The third and seriously popular December birthstone is Tanzanite. This beautiful gem can only be found in Tanzania (thus its name). Inside of Tanzania, the gem is only found in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. While Tanzanite is best known for its blue color, nearly all of the stones have some shades of purple. The size of the stone often determines the depth of the blue. The biggest stones have rich blues, while the smaller ones are lighter with slightly more lavender tones.


At Chasing Treasure, we take great pride in curating a collection of heirloom quality jewelry boxes to securely and safely protect your gemstones. From small trinket boxes that are perfect for giving rings with December birthstones to large armoire jewelry boxes to hold immense collections, we have everything that jewelry connoisseurs will appreciate.

December Birthstone: The Lovely Blue Topaz

Blue Topaz

December’s birthstone, the Blue Topaz, a beautiful mineral admired over the millennia.  It is found in all continents in the Western Hemisphere as well as Europe.  Pure Topaz (a silicate mineral of aluminum and fluorine) is clear, and color variants, such as yellow, orange, green, white, blue, and pink (the rarest), are due to impurities.

The Blue Topaz is categorized into 3 shades:  Sky (light blue tones), Swiss (medium tones), and London (the darkest blue hue).  London Blue Topaz is considered the most valuable (and therefore coveted) of the three.  It is also the rarest to find naturally, as the blue is created due to large amounts of heat or irradiation from the sun.  The Sky & Swiss are the most commonly found, making them the more affordable for everyday use by a broader population.

Topaz can be readily cut into most any size and shape to fit many jewelry designs.  Because of the sparkling blue hue it makes for a beautiful piece of jewelry.  When shopping for gift ideas for those with December birthdays, earrings (drop or stud), and shaped stones for rings or necklaces will look spectacular.  And Topaz looks grand as a pendant or pin to take an ensemble from attractive to beautiful.

Giving Blue Topaz as a gift choice for December birthdays is not limited to December:  consider it for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, or Anniversary.  She’ll appreciate her birthstone gift any time of the year, and don’t forget:  she’ll need a jewelry box as beautiful as the jewelry she wears to keep it safe and secure!

Locking Standing Jewelry Armoire for Her Prized Gems