December’s Gemstone Magic: Turquoise, Tanzanite & Zircon
December babies really hit the jackpot when it comes to gemstones, because this month has not just one, but three gorgeous birthstones to choose from. Each one has its own personality, history, and colour palette that can brighten even the chilliest winter day. So grab your favourite cup of happiness, settle in, and let’s talk about what makes December’s gemstones so special!
Turquoise 💎✨ — The Ancient Sky Stone
Turquoise from Kazakhstan. Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/42200412@N03/32417418068
Astrological Sign & Dates
Turquoise is most commonly associated with Sagittarius, whose birthday season runs from November 22nd to December 21st. Because of its grounding and protective qualities, some people also link it to early Capricorn energy, which begins on December 22nd and runs through January 19th.
Origin & Formation
Turquoise forms when water that’s rich in copper and aluminium trickles through porous rock layers and slowly deposits minerals in fractures and cavities. Over long periods of time, this process creates the beautiful opaque stone that has been treasured for thousands of years. It’s essentially Mother Nature painting with minerals.
Mining raw turquoise: Photo credit: https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/fall-2021-persian-turquoise-ancient-treasure-neyshabur
Varieties, Types & Colours
Turquoise appears in several beautiful shades, ranging from the famous robin’s-egg blue to more green-blue hues, and even apple green tones, depending on the amount of copper and iron present. Some stones are completely smooth in colour, while others display matrix — the natural brown or black veining patterns running through the gem.
Types of Turquoise. Photo Credit: Azuro Republic
There are also several well-known varieties. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise from the United States is admired for its vivid blue colour and minimal matrix. Persian Turquoise, originating from Iran, is famous for its intense, even colour. Spiderweb Turquoise, found in places like China and Nevada, is valued for the intricate web-like patterns in its matrix.
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise vs. Other Varieties. Photo Credit: https://www.southwestsilvergallery.com/blog/sleeping-beauty-turquoise
Grades
Turquoise is typically graded by its colour saturation, hardness, clarity of tone, and the presence (or absence) of matrix.
High-grade turquoise usually displays a vibrant, even blue and tends to be harder and denser.
Unenhanced turquoise is often softer, so stabilizing treatments are common and accepted in the industry, especially for jewellery purposes.
Chemical Composition
Chemically speaking, turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium with the formula CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O. The copper within the stone is what gives turquoise its signature blue tone.
Countries of Origin
Some of the most famous turquoise sources include the United States (especially Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico), Iran, China, Egypt, and Afghanistan.
Iran's Turquoise Mines. Photo Credit: https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/fall-2021-persian-turquoise-ancient-treasure-neyshabur
What It’s Famous For
Turquoise has been loved and worn for over 7,000 years. Ancient civilizations from Egypt to Persia to China considered it a sacred stone, while Indigenous North American cultures have used turquoise for ceremonial, artistic, and practical purposes for centuries. Its longstanding presence in human history truly makes it one of the world’s most iconic gems.
Turquoise Diadem Crown gifted by Napoleon. Photo credit: https://ids.si.edu/ids/dynamic?container.fullpage&id=https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/media/?irn=11201632
One of the most famous turquoise pieces in history is the diadem Napoleon gifted to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise. Originally set with dazzling emeralds, the diadem was later transformed when the emeralds were sold and replaced with vivid Persian turquoise, giving the piece an entirely new personality. Even with the change, the diadem still carries the romance and grandeur of its imperial origins, making it one of the most iconic turquoise jewels ever to grace European royalty.
Turquoise in Historical Lore
Stories about turquoise run deep. Ancient warriors believed it offered protection, and Persians thought it guaranteed victory and good fortune.
Some of the earliest known examples of Persian turquoise come from archaeological sites on the Deh Luran Plain in western Iran. Radiocarbon testing places turquoise beads from early settlements in this region as far back as roughly 7000 to 6500 BCE, making them among the oldest turquoise artifacts ever discovered.
Iranian Burial with Turquoise. These images from Hole et al. (1969) are used with permission of the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology. Photo Credit: https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/fall-2021-persian-turquoise-ancient-treasure-neyshabur
At one burial site in what researchers call the Mohamad-Djaffar zone, turquoise ornaments were found arranged around the body, including two beautifully polished beads and a small piercing ornament similar to a labret. The beads were positioned near the neck, while the labret rested close to the chest, suggesting they were worn as personal adornments during life—and possibly chosen intentionally for the burial as symbols of status, beauty, or protection.
Many cultures believed turquoise would change colour as a warning of danger or illness, which added to its mystical reputation.
In the metaphysical world, turquoise is considered a protective stone that encourages courage, communication, and inner peace. Travellers often wore it for safe journeys, making it a perfect match for adventurous Sagittarius.
Tanzanite 🔮❄️ — The Newcomer with Cosmic Vibes
Astrological Sign & Dates
Tanzanite resonates beautifully with Sagittarius, supporting intuition, creativity, joy, and spiritual exploration — everything that makes this zodiac sign sparkle.
Origin & Formation
When tanzanite was first discovered in 1967, it was actually known by its mineral name, “blue zoisite.” Tiffany & Co. quickly realized that the name sounded a little too close to “suicide,” which—let’s be honest—was not exactly a gemstone marketer’s dream. So they rebranded it as tanzanite, naming it after Tanzania, the only place in the world where it’s found.
This simple change transformed the stone’s future. With Tiffany’s full marketing power behind it, tanzanite was suddenly introduced to the world as a rare, exotic newcomer, and its value skyrocketed. What could have remained an obscure mineral instead became one of the most desirable modern gemstones, celebrated for its colour-shifting magic and incredible rarity.
TanzaniteOne's Chief Geologist, Robert Grafen-Greaney, points out the boudins where tanzanite is found. Photo Credit: Richard W. Hughes
Varieties, Types & Colours
One of tanzanite’s most magical traits is its trichroism, meaning it can display three colours — blue, violet, and burgundy — depending on the angle and the lighting. Its shades range from soft periwinkle hues to deep royal blues and vivid violet-purples. Most tanzanite is heat treated, which is a stable and accepted enhancement that brings out the stronger blue tones.
Tanzanite Before Heating. Photo credit: https://www.theraregemstonecompany.com/gemology-articles/tanzanite-heating
Tanzanite After Heating. Photo Credit: https://www.theraregemstonecompany.com/gemology-articles/tanzanite-heating
Tanzanite Grades. Photo Credit: https://shimansky.com/pages/tanzanite-grading
Tanzanite is graded by the intensity of its colour, its clarity, and the quality of its cut. The finest stones, often labelled AAA, display rich, saturated blue-violet tones and excellent transparency. At its best, tanzanite can rival even high-end sapphires.
Photo credit: Jeff Moseley
Chemical Composition
Tanzanite is actually a blue-violet variety of the mineral zoisite. Its chemical formula is Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)(Si₂O₇)O(OH), and it is the presence of vanadium in its structure that gives it its remarkable colour.
Country of Origin
Tanzanite comes from only one place: the Merelani Hills of Tanzania. No other deposit has ever been found, which makes it one of the rarest gemstones in the world.
What It’s Famous For
Tanzanite is famous for its rarity, its mesmerizing colour-shifting properties, and its status as one of the newest gemstones to be introduced to the jewellery world. Since its discovery, it has rapidly grown into a modern favourite.
Who Wore It?
Several celebrities have showcased tanzanite on the red carpet. Cate Blanchett, Sarah Jessica Parker, Penélope Cruz, and Beyoncé have all worn stunning tanzanite pieces, especially earrings and statement necklaces that show off the stone’s vivid colours.
Beyonce wearing tanzanite. Photo credit: https://medium.com
Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Tanzanite: Photo Credit: https://medium.com
The Stone in Historical Lore
Because tanzanite is so new, there isn’t ancient lore surrounding it. However, Maasai tradition says that blue stones bring blessings, and tanzanite has been gifted to newborns as a symbol of new beginnings and positive transformation.
Metaphysical Properties
Metaphysically, tanzanite is linked with intuition, emotional clarity, spiritual awakening, and creative inspiration. It’s often worn by people going through life transitions or seeking deeper connection with their inner voice.
Zircon 💫💙 — The Old Soul with Fiery Spark
Blue Zircon faceted gemstones. Photo Credit: https://saleswset.click
Astrological Sign & Dates
Zircon resonates well with Sagittarius, especially in its blue variety. This vibrant gemstone is said to support clarity, insight, and honest communication — qualities that help balance Sagittarius’s adventurous spirit and bold curiosity. Its bright energy complements the sign’s love of learning, exploration, and truth-seeking, making zircon a fitting companion for this fire sign.
Origin & Formation
Unlike tanzanite, zircon is ancient. It is one of the oldest minerals on Earth, forming from molten rock more than 4.4 billion years ago. That means zircon existed long before dinosaurs roamed the planet, long before mountains rose, and long before most of the Earth as we know it even existed.
Varieties, Types & Colours
Zircon appears in a wide range of colours, including blue, clear or white, red, brown, and golden hues. Blue zircon is the most popular variety for December birthstones, but all colours showcase the gem’s exceptional brilliance and fire.
The gemstone carries rich cultural and historical significance. In Persian, “Zircon” or “Zargun” means “golden-coloured,” while in Arabic, “zarkun” refers to red, cinnabar, or vermillion — yet zircons actually appear in a wide range of colours, with the Cambodian blue zircon being the most coveted.
Blue Zircon, December's Stone. Photo Credit: https://www.gia.edu
Grades
Zircon is graded by its clarity, brilliance, and richness of colour. It is typically very clean and refracts light beautifully, which often leads to it being mistaken for diamond, especially in its white variety. High-quality blue zircon with vivid saturation is considered the most valuable.
Chemical Composition
Zircon is a zirconium silicate with the chemical formula ZrSiO₄. Its crystalline structure and natural sparkle make it one of the brightest gemstones available.
Blue zircon is a stunning December gemstone, but it does have one quirky trait: its colour can shift if it’s exposed to strong UV light, like tanning beds or the UV lamps used for gel nail applications.
Blue Zircon stones before and after being exposed to UV light. Photo Credit: https://www.gia.edu
Many blue zircons started their lives as brown stones and were heated to create that vivid blue tone. This heat treatment rearranges some of the electrons within the crystal structure.
When intense UV light hits the gemstone, those electrons can shift back toward their original state, causing the blue colour to fade or even return to a brownish shade. It doesn’t happen to every stone, but it’s common enough that blue zircon should always be removed before UV nail treatments or tanning sessions to keep that gorgeous winter-sky colour intact.
Naturally occurring Blue zircons are uncommon; however, their popularity is extensive, especially in the United States. The blue colour of zircon is scarce, even rarer than diamonds. The only place known to produce naturally blue, untreated zircon in significant amounts is Campania, Italy, where the gemstone formed within syenite rocks once expelled by Mount Vesuvius.
Countries of Origin
Significant zircon deposits are found in Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Tanzania. Since the 1930s, a bulk of the world's blue zircon is sourced from Cambodia.
A map of Cambodia showing Ratanakiri Province outlined in red; Photo Credit: Zeug et. al.
What It’s Famous For
Zircon is famous for its brilliance, its fiery dispersion, and its long history on Earth. It was frequently used as a diamond substitute long before modern synthetics existed and has been cherished for centuries.
Who Wore It?
Zircon was extremely popular during the Victorian era, when colourful gemstones adorned everything from brooches to tiaras. Queen Victoria herself favoured many vibrant gems, including zircon, and helped popularize them throughout European fashion.
Edwardian Blue Zircon Necklace. Photo Credit: https://www.langantiques.com
Art Deco Blue Zircon Ring. Photo Credit: https://www.langantiques.com
The Stone in Historical Lore
Throughout history, zircon was believed to offer protection, wisdom, and prosperity. In the Middle Ages, it was even considered a stone that could induce sleep, ward off nightmares, and bring peace to the wearer.
Blue zircon has been admired for centuries, particularly during the Victorian era, when its soft, smoky blue made it a favourite in mourning jewellery and English estate pieces. Its beauty was celebrated long before that — Pliny the Elder compared its icy colour to a hyacinth flower, and Italian Renaissance jewellers highlighted it in their designs.
Throughout history, zircon was believed to ward off evil, and Jewish tradition even speaks of an angel named Zircon who watched over Adam and Eve.
Gemologist George Kunz once promoted it as “Starlite” for its fiery sparkle, though the name never stuck. With mentions in sacred texts and centuries of admiration, zircon has truly earned its place as a timeless gemstone.
Metaphysical Properties
In metaphysical traditions, zircon is valued for grounding the mind, sharpening focus, attracting prosperity, and offering protective energy. It’s a stone many people turn to when they want clarity and stability in their lives.
December's Blues
As you can see, December’s gemstones each bring their own kind of magic to the season. Whether you’re drawn to the ancient protective power of turquoise, the rare and cosmic beauty of tanzanite, or the brilliant old soul energy of zircon, these gems offer something truly special for everyone. I love how each one carries its own stories, history, and personality — just like the people who wear them.
So whether you’re celebrating a December birthday, hunting for the perfect gift, or simply treating yourself (because you absolutely deserve it!), these winter wonders are ready to bring a little sparkle into your world.
Thanks for reading,
