What is the birthstone for December, the last month of the year? What is its history, meaning and characteristics? Today we are going to talk about the birthstone of December.
Table of Contents
- What is December’s Birthstone?
- Why Are There Four Birthstones for December?
- December Birthstone Color
- December Birthstone History
- December Birthstone Origin
- December Birthstone Symbolism
- December Birthstone Durability
- December Birthstone Prices
- December Birthstone Cleaning and Care
- December Birthstones Q&A
What is December’s Birthstone?
December birthstones are four beautiful gemstones: Tanzanite, Zircon, Turquoise and Blue Topaz. Each gemstone has an enchanting blue hue that symbolizes the purity and serenity of winter and brings good fortune and blessings to those born in December. Each gemstone has a unique beauty and cultural significance, bringing a different experience to the wearer.
Why Are There Four Birthstones for December?
Officially, the Jewelers of America’s birthstone list recognizes three December birthstones: tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise. So why is blue topaz often included as a fourth? The key lies in its color: blue topaz’s cool, crisp hue aligns perfectly with December’s wintry vibe, and since blue is a signature shade for the month’s birthstones, jewelers have widely promoted it as a December gem, cementing its place in popular culture.
You might wonder: Since topaz is the traditional birthstone for November, shouldn’t blue topaz belong to November too? It’s a fair point. Technically, blue topaz straddles both months: it’s linked to December for its color, commercial appeal, and cultural resonance, while also claiming a spot in November as part of the broader topaz family.
Is blue topaz more suitable as the November birthstone or the December?
Blue topaz fits better as a December birthstone.
While it technically belongs to November (as part of the topaz family), its cool blue hues align with December’s wintry, icy vibe—matching the month’s other blue-toned birthstones (tanzanite, zircon, turquoise). Culturally, it’s widely promoted and recognized as a December gem, making it a stronger fit for the month.
December Birthstone Color
As mentioned above, blue is a common hue in December birthstones, so they all have a blue hue. Note that they have blue, not just blue. So let’s take a look at the colors of each of the four December birthstones!
Tanzanite: Tanzanite is essentially a blue-violet zoisite, known for its deep blue to violet hues. It is transparent to semi-transparent and has a wide range of color variations, appearing different colors in different lights or angles. Tanzanite is also known as the “gem of the 21st century”.
Zircon: December’s most colorful birthstone, zircon is transparent to opaque and comes in hues of blue, red, yellow, green, brown and colorless. In the early days, white/colorless zircon was often used as a substitute for diamonds, with blue being the most popular color today. In fact, natural blue is not common and is more often produced by heat treating brown zircon.
Turquoise: Unlike other December birthstones, turquoise is opaque. It has a soft, azure blue-green to green color ranging from powdery blue to greenish robin’s egg blue, with warm, serene tones and classic beauty. Interestingly, the word “turquoise” itself denotes a distinctive blue color.
Blue Topaz: Topaz is a transparent mineral, and natural blue topaz is usually a very pale icy blue. Since natural blue topaz is rare, it is more often found on the market as a result of the processing of colorless or light-colored topaz. Hues range from light to dark blue, with London blue being the most popular today. Learn more in our Topaz Guide.
December Birthstone History
Tanzanite: It is a mineral zoisite discovered in 1967 beneath Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Tanzanite was originally known as “blue-violet zoisite”, which was changed by Tiffany & Co. in 1968. Tiffany’s marketing department felt that the original name was not a marketing advantage, so it was renamed Tanzanite in honor of Tanzania, the country where the gemstone was first discovered.
Zircon: This gemstone is thousands of years old and is one of the oldest minerals on earth. Ancient people mistakenly confused it with diamonds, and it was not until the late 18th century that a true distinction was made. Originally named “zargun” (Persian for “golden”), zircon has undergone two changes, from the French “jargoon” to the German “zirkon” and the English word “zircon”, which is based on the German word “Zirkon”. The name ended with “zircon”.
Turquoise: One of the oldest gemstones, turquoise was a favorite of ancient civilizations and was considered a sacred stone in ancient times. Turquoise was first introduced to Europe from Turkey, hence the word “turquoise” is derived from the Old French word “turquois” meaning “Turkish”. The famous writer Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus) called it “callais” in his Natural History, which is derived from the ancient Greek word “κάλαϊς”. The Achytecs called it “chalchihuitl”, and later in the 19th century they also used “kalaite” or “azure spar” as their technical term. The term “kalaite” or “azure spar” was also used in the 19th century, but is not widely used.
Blue Topaz: Although the history of Topaz can be traced back to Ancient Greece, there are relatively few references to Blue Topaz. This may be due to the relative rarity of natural blue topaz, but in the 20th century, with the development of modern and advanced gemstone treatments, colorless/light-colored topazes were treated to give them an attractive blue hue. These treatments quickly gained popularity and filled a long-standing gap in the blue topaz market.
December Birthstone Origin
Tanzanite: Merelani Hills of Tanzania (the only one on earth).
Zircon: Mainly from Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.
Turquoise: From all over the world, with Iran, the southwestern United States and China’s Shaanxi being the most representative.
Blue Topaz: Mined primarily in Brazil, Sri Lanka and Russia.
December Birthstone Symbolism
Tanzanite: Symbolizes wisdom, inner strength, transformation and renewal, hope and discovery.
Zircon: Symbolizes wisdom, happiness, prosperity and a bright future, and is believed to bring balance and harmony.
Turquoise: A symbol of protection and peace, signifying health, friendship and good luck, often made into amulets in ancient times.
Blue Topaz: A symbol of sincerity, love and forgiveness, it brings inspiration and clarity of thought.
December Birthstone Durability
Tanzanite: With a hardness of 6-7, it is suitable for everyday wear, but avoids strong impacts.
Zircon: With a hardness of 6-7.5, but its crystal structure is fragile and requires careful protection.
Turquoise: Lower hardness (5-6), relatively soft, suitable for making pendants, earrings and other jewelry that is not easily damaged. It should be noted that sweat can discolor turquoise. This is why some people say that turquoise can take on different colors depending on the wearer. (Turquoise contains numerous tiny pores, making it prone to absorbing external substances such as sweat and oils. The pH levels of sweat vary among individuals, leading to different reaction outcomes.)
Blue Topaz: With a hardness of 8 and high durability, it is suitable for use as an engagement ring or everyday jewelry.
December Birthstone Prices
The price of a gemstone is usually measured according to its 4Cs; the higher the quality, the higher the price.
Tanzanite: Usually costs around $300-$1200 per carat or more.
Zircon: Usually around $75-$200 per carat. (Zircon over 5 carats is rare and can increase the price significantly.)
Turquoise: Usually about $5-$30 per carat. (High quality Persian turquoise can be more expensive.)
Blue Tourmaline: Usually about $10-$50 per carat (easy to produce and therefore relatively inexpensive, the more saturated the blue, the more expensive it is.)
December Birthstone Cleaning and Care
Tanzanite: Use mild soapy water and a soft cloth to clean, do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaning, and avoid contact with heat or chemicals.
Zircon: Clean with warm water and a soft brush, but do not use ultrasonic cleaners to avoid widening cracks.
Turquoise: Wipe with a clean, soft cloth; avoid exposure to chemicals or cosmetics.
Blue Topaz: Clean with soapy water, avoid contact with hard objects or use ultrasonic or steam cleaning.
Store all birthstones separately in a dry environment when not worn to prevent them from scratching other jewelry.
December Birthstone Jewelry
Blue Topaz & Diamond Alternate Stacking Band
Set with alternating blue topaz and diamonds, this December birthstone ring’s delicate and compact design makes it perfect for any occasion! (Option to change gems and metals.)
Patchwork Tanzanite & Diamond Half Circle Band
Composed of tanzanite and diamonds, this ring features a semi-eternity design that sets the gemstones irregularly on the band, emphasizing a casual and lazy, yet sophisticated feel! (Option to change gems and metals.)
Spectra Blue Topaz Pendant Bezel Necklace
This necklace uses different shades of blue topaz to form the pendant, giving you many different beauties at once!
Alexandrite Necklace with Tanzanite & Moissanite Accents
Although the “star” of this pendant necklace is the alexandrite, the tanzanite is also an indispensable “character” in this necklace because it is the one that completes it! (Option to change gems and metals.)
Vintage Beaded Filigree Tanzanite Rings
This vintage Art Deco style ring features a sparkling tanzanite and multiple diamonds accenting the sides, giving the ring a glamorous glow!
London Blue Topaz Infinity Promise Ring
This sparkling ring showcases a London blue topaz in a princess cut and incorporates an infinity band design, adding a touch of elegance to its modern style!
December Birthstones Q&A
Turquoise is usually the most affordable December birthstone, at just a few dollars per carat.
Tanzanite is the most expensive December birthstone due to its rarity, usually costing several hundred to several thousand dollars per carat.
Tanzanite. It is found only in Tanzania and nowhere else.
Blue Topaz. With a Mohs hardness of 8, blue topaz has good durability and is perfect for everyday wear.
The original December birthstone was turquoise. Turquoise was considered the primary December birthstone long before the modern birthstone system was developed. Then came Zircon, Tanzanite, and finally Blue Topaz (Note: Blue Topaz is not yet on the official birthstone list).
June — Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone are the three June birthstones. August — Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx. December (official birthstone list) — Tanzanite, Zircon, and Turquoise are the three birthstones for December. Blue Topaz is an emerging birthstone but has not yet been included in the official birthstone list.
Related Readings: January Birthstone, February Birthstone, March Birthstone, April Birthstone, May Birthstone, June Birthstone, July Birthstone, August Birthstone, September Birthstone, October Birthstone, November Birthstone