Why Does December Have Four Birthstones?

The original modern list, standardized in 1912 by Jewelers of America, officially recognized only turquoise and lapis lazuli for December. Turquoise, with its ancient history, was the primary stone, while lapis was a less common alternative.

So, how did we get to four?

• Zircon’s Rise: Although zircon is an ancient gem, it gained significant popularity in the early 20th century due to its brilliant sparkle and appealing blue hues. Its properties made it a compelling addition, and it was formally promoted from an alternative to a primary December birthstone to offer a more brilliant and durable option than lapis lazuli.

• Blue Topaz’s Accessibility: Natural blue topaz is exceptionally rare. However, with the advancement of gemstone treatment processes in the mid-20th century, jewelers could reliably create stunning and stable blue shades from colorless topaz. The commercial availability and beauty of these stones—especially in popular shades like Sky, Swiss, and London Blue—led to blue topaz being embraced as a modern and affordable December birthstone.

• Tanzanite’s Dramatic Entry: The most recent and decisive change came with the discovery of tanzanite in 1967. Tiffany & Co., recognizing its potential, named it and launched a major marketing campaign, highlighting its singular source in Tanzania and its captivating violet-blue color. Due to its immediate popularity and perfect fit for December’s color theme, it was officially added to the birthstone list by Jewelers of America in 2002, making it the newest gem on any modern birthstone chart.

In essence, December has four birthstones because the list was expanded to honor both tradition (turquoise) and progress, welcoming popular classics (zircon, blue topaz) and a rare, modern discovery (tanzanite) into the fold. This gives those born in December an unparalleled choice of gems, each with a unique story.

The History Behind December’s Birthstones

Each of December’s gems carries a rich history, whispering tales from ancient civilizations to modern-day discoveries.

Turquoise: The Ancient Talisman

Turquoise is one of the world’s oldest known gemstones, revered for millennia. Adorned by Egyptian pharaohs, including King Tut, it was a centerpiece in their royal jewelry. Persian empires valued it for its celestial blue color, often inscribing it with scriptures and using it as currency. Additionally, across the ocean, Native American tribes have long revered it as a sacred stone of protection, skillfully crafting it into powerful amulets and intricate inlay work.

Zircon: The Medieval Brilliance

Zircon is a natural gemstone mined for over 2000 years. The name likely derives from the Persian word zargun, meaning “gold-colored.” During the Victorian era, blue zircon was exceptionally popular in English jewelry for its vibrant hue and exceptional fire—its ability to disperse light into a rainbow of colors. For centuries, it was a popular diamond alternative before the advent of modern simulants.

Blue Topaz: The Modern Classic

Topaz itself has a long history (the ancient Greeks believed it gave them strength), but the beloved blue variety is a more recent story. While some rare natural blue topaz exists, the widespread availability is thanks to a 20th-century innovation: the treatment of colorless topaz with irradiation and heat to produce stable, vibrant shades of blue. This process made this beautiful gem accessible to everyone, cementing its place as a modern classic.

Tanzanite: The Generation’s Gem

In stark contrast to the others, tanzanite’s story began just over 50 years ago. It was discovered in 1967 in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The story goes that a Masai tribesman found a vibrant blue crystal and alerted a prospector. Tiffany & Co. recognized its potential and became its primary distributor, naming it “tanzanite” to highlight its single geographic source. Its recent discovery makes it a thousand times rarer than diamonds.

The Symbolism of December’s Birthstones

Beyond their beauty, each stone carries deep symbolic meaning, making them gifts of profound sentiment.

Tanzanite: The Stone of Transformation

As a 20th-century discovery, tanzanite is seen as a stone of transformation and new beginnings. It symbolizes wisdom, truth, and spiritual awakening, making it a perfect gift for a milestone birthday, a graduation, or anyone embarking on a new chapter in life.

Turquoise: The Talisman of Protection

Universally recognized as a stone of protection, friendship, and good fortune. People believed it could absorb negative energy and promote serenity and well-being. A gift of turquoise is a wish for a happy, healthy, and protected life.

Zircon: The Guardian of Virtue

Known as a stone of virtue, zircon is associated with honor, wisdom, and self-confidence. In the Middle Ages, people believed it could induce sound sleep, ward off evil spirits, and promote prosperity throughout one’s journey.

Blue Topaz: The Soothing Stone of Clarity

The serene blue color of this stone symbolizes calmness, communication, and emotional balance. It is the perfect antidote to the hectic holiday season, promoting clarity of thought and peaceful expression. It makes an ideal gift for a communicator, a friend in need of tranquility, or to celebrate a lasting relationship.

A Side-by-Side Comparison of December’s Birthstones

How to Choose Between Tanzanite, Turquoise, Zircon, and Blue Topaz

With four stunning options, your choice can be a beautiful reflection of personal style and meaning.

• Choose Tanzanite if… you are drawn to the rare and unique. It’s for the person who loves a conversation piece, values profound symbolism, and prefers jewelry for special occasions or pieces like pendants and earrings that are less prone to knocks.

• Choose Turquoise if… your heart beats for history and earthy, one-of-a-kind beauty. It’s the ultimate choice for the free spirit, the artist, or anyone with a bohemian flair. It’s also a meaningful gift of friendship and protection.

• Choose Zircon if… you are a connoisseur of classic sparkle. If you love the brilliance of a diamond but want a colorful and historically rich alternative, zircon is your gem. It’s perfect for someone who appreciates vintage styles and exceptional fire.

• Choose Blue Topaz if… you need a gem for daily wear and timeless elegance. Its excellent durability makes it ideal for an engagement ring or a ring worn every day. It’s a versatile, serene, and universally flattering choice for any occasion.

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December Birthstone FAQs

Conclusion

From the rare violet-blue of tanzanite to the ancient charm of turquoise, the brilliant fire of zircon, and the serene shades of blue topaz, December’s birthstones present a unique range of options for every taste. Each stone carries its own history and characteristics, offering meaningful ways to celebrate a December connection. This variety reflects both natural geological diversity and evolving human appreciation for gemstones, making the month particularly rich for those who value fine jewelry.

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21st Anniversary – Loilite

As the 21st wedding anniversary gemstone, lolite stones represent the deep understanding that blossoms after two decades of marriage. Lolite’s subtle color variation is reminiscent of the evolving perspectives gained through shared experiences, signaling that intimacy continues to deepen with each passing year. Its soothing shade also symbolizes the refuge and comfort that develops between partners through a lifetime of companionship. Furthermore, as lolite has a calming effect, it denotes the peaceful steadiness of a marriage entering its third decade. The gemstone honors the enduring bond and unfolding mysteries of long-term love revealed through enduring commitment.

22nd Anniversary – Spinel

As a marriage reaches its vibrant 22nd year, spinel is the perfect embodiment of this exuberant time. Spinel has a beautiful array of colors, ranging from deep reds to vivid greens. It represents the lively vibrancy and zest that keeps a relationship fresh even after two decades. Like partners who remain as spirited as when they first fell in love, spinel continues to sparkle brightly. While sometimes mistaken for rubies, spinel has a lively fire all its own – mirroring how a marriage gains increasing uniqueness as the years pass. Spinels’ energy and luster signify the passion that endures, ensuring the flames of love stay ignited.

23rd Anniversary – Imperial Topaz

By the 23rd year together, a marriage has become a warm refuge from the world. Imperial topaz embodies this feeling of comfort and security with its cheerful golden hues. Its bright color evokes sunlight and the glow it brings. Like imperial topaz draws its vibrant glow from being near heat, so too does a long-standing relationship gain strength through facing each day side by side. Imperial topaz’s radiance is a fitting symbol for the deep-seated joy and permanence found where love remains strong after so many years.

24th Anniversary Gemstone – Tanzanite

Tanzanite, one of the birthstones of December, has a unique blend of blue and violet hues. It represents the depth and complexity achieved after 24 years of marriage. Besides, its shifting colors that appear different in varied light signify how solid partnerships continue to reveal new facets of understanding through changing circumstances. Just as tanzanite’s beauty becomes enhanced through changing conditions, so does a couple’s bond become singular and illuminated after over two decades together. By honoring tanzanite on this anniversary, partners celebrate the rarity of their resilient love that has shone through every season.

25th Anniversary – Silver Jubilee

After 25 years of marriage, the Silver Jubilee anniversary is rightly celebrated. Just as silver is refined by fire, a relationship that survives a quarter century becomes polished and resilient through facing both joys and hardships together. On this Silver Jubilee, the pure, enduring symbolism of silver expresses gratitude for the bond that has shone steadily through every season. Reaching their Silver Jubilee signals a couple’s success in cultivating true companionship that grows more brilliant with time. It is a celebration of true devotion demonstrated through a lifetime thus far shared side by side.

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Overview

Tanzanite is a rare and unique blue-violet gemstone found near the town of Mererani in northern Tanzania. When exposed to different lighting conditions, it exhibits beautiful hues of blue, violet, and purple. Chemically, Tanzanite is a form of the calcium-aluminum silicate mineral zoisite. The specific arrangement of calcium, aluminum, and silica atoms in its structure allows light to refract in a way that produces Tanzanite’s well-known color variations. Since its discovery in 1967, it has become renowned worldwide for its distinctive color-changing beauty.

Origin

Tanzanite is only found in northern Tanzania’s Merelani Hills near Mererani town. Millions of years ago, alkaline volcanic intrusions occurred below ground in this region, leading to calcium-aluminum silicate minerals’ crystallization. Through the process of pseudomorphism, the chemical composition of some minerals is altered over time. Because of this transformation, they developed into the rare blue-violet gemstone known as Tanzanite. Moreover, this isolated locale remains the sole natural source of Tanzanite worldwide due to the unique geological conditions required for its formation.

History

Tanzanite was only discovered in the late 1960s in the Merelani Hills of Tanzania. For hundreds of years, this rare blue-violet mineral lay undiscovered in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. In 1967, Maasai livestock herders came upon unusual violet stones and brought them to authorities, sparking scientific inquiry. Studies revealed this was not merely a colorful rock, but a then-unknown mineral. They identified it as a new mineral and named it “Tanzanite” after its home country. Due to its distinct vibrant color and rarity, Tanzanite quickly gained global fame and became Tanzania’s most important gemstone for trade and revenue.

The Difference Between Tanzanite and Sapphire

It was only discovered in 1967 and exhibits a unique blue-violet pleochroism that makes the color change depending on crystal orientation. This one-of-a-kind hue has made it a highly sought-after stone. Tanzanite ranks 7-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, giving it durability for jewelry, yet it can also withstand brief high heat up to 800°C without damage. Due to its exclusive color and restricted mining location, Tanzanite tends to be more expensive than other gemstones.

Sapphire is a corundum, consisting of pure aluminum oxide with trace amounts of other elements. It comes in a rainbow of colors, but the most renowned is a medium to deep blue. Sapphires rank a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them exceptionally sturdy for jewelry. Sapphires can resist heat up to about 1800°C without consequence. Their durability and appearance have resulted in their widespread popularity and use in fine jewelry over centuries. While not as rare as Tanzanite, the most desirable hues of sapphire can still command high prices from collectors and investors.

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December is the last month of our year. What kind of surprises will be happened keeps people curious. I have no idea about it. But if you are deciding on a December birthstone. My advice is helpful. Take this list of magical December birthstones. SHE·SAID·YES will always be here no matter where you are living.

Turquoise

Looking back to the old times, Turquoise had always been a type of jewelry or amulet in many fete ceremonies. Also, it’s a semi-translucent to opaque gem that ranges from blue to green and often has veins of matrix running through it. Furthermore, thanks to its rare color and naturally exquisite patterns inside, it ranked in the list of gemstones and ornamental stones for thousands of years. Finally, not only beautiful indeed, but Turquoise was also believed to possess many beneficial powers, like guaranteeing health and good fortune.

Zircon

Zircon refers to a mineral of the nesosilicate group. As a common natural material, it shows up in many countries around the world. From Cambodia and Brazil to East Africa. Its name comes from the Persian argument, meaning “gold-hued.” The natural color of Zircon varies differently due to its inner impurities, ranging from yellow-golden red, blue, and green etc. Although an amount of the dreamy blue Zircon has been through heat treatment, they’re still the most popular and common color nowadays. Famous for its unique greenish-blue color, Zircon perfectly interprets the beauty of the December Birthstone.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite is a striking blue-violet gemstone of the mineral zoisite. Belonging to the epidote mineral group, it has appeared in recent decades. Its name was from the source area—northern Tanzania. The magnificent feature of Tanzanite is trichroism, which means it can exhibit three different colors when viewed from three different directions under transmitted light— blue, brown, and violet. Its fascinating violet-blue hue is a kind of result of gemstone heating treatment. The burgundy or brown shade could be easily removed through metamorphic processes or artificial heating. And produce a stronger violet-blue color instead of it. The lovely Tanzanite is the youngest December birthstone, nominated in 2002. 

Blue Topaz

The last December birthstone is blue Topaz. Unlike the previous three gorgeous gemstones known for their stunning blue hue. Topaz attains a wide variety of colors, yellow, red, pink, and blue. And blue Topaz is only one of these vivid-colored gems. Additionally, from plain blue to dark blue, it can divide into three kinds: sky blue, Swiss blue, and London blue through heat and radiation laboratory treatment. Each one could express your beauty and personality perfectly.

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Amethyst

The most well-known purple shade gemstone absolutely belongs to the February birthstone Amethyst. It’s a sort of quartz with a unique violet color. Like most fancy-colored gemstones, Amethyst attained its hue from irradiation, some special iron impurities, or other trace elements. Despite the classic violet color, it also presents different purple shades. Ranging from light lilac to a deep, intense royal purple, it sometimes has a cool bluish-purple or a reddish purple referred to as “raspberry.” Also, Amethyst frequently shows color zoning, with the most intense color typically found at the crystal terminations. This magical feature is one of this reason for its popularity. Additionally, people believed that it was a protection from the evil spirit and could keep them cool-headed. Nowadays, you can find it almost everywhere in the world, so Amethyst jewelry is quite affordable for everyone.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite belongs to the epidote mineral group and is a blue and purple variety of zoisite caused by small amounts of vanadium. It was named by Tiffany & Co and represented the country in which it was discovered—Tanzania. However, the most prominent feature of the Tanzanites is the unusually strong trichromatic. This means that Tanzanite can appear in a variety of colors, including blue, purple, and burgundy, under different lighting conditions. However, the natural Tanzanite attains a reddish brown and its blush-purple color results from the heating treatment. Today, nearly all of the Tanzanites are the enhanced result of heating, and this advanced technology provides many opportunities for colored-gemstone jewelry.

Sugilite

The second beautiful purple gemstone is Sugilite, a relatively rare pink-to-purple cyclosilicate mineral. It owns unique crystallizes in the hexagonal system with prismatic crystals in a massive form, which is usually seldom found. In addition, the composition of Sugilite varies differently: iron, manganese, and aluminum can substitute for one another. All these diverse elements and properties could create a completely different pinkish-purple shade in Sugilite. But most of this charming purple color results from small amounts of manganese. Due to its rarity, Sugilite isn’t familiar to customers and hardly appears in the jewelry market. So some sugilite stone beads and figurines of good quality are precious collectibles.

Iolite

Deriving from the Greek word “ios,” the striking purple gem iolite means “violet.” It’s a silicate mineral of aluminum, iron, and magnesium. Meanwhile, despite its beautiful, violetish blue through slight violetish-blue hue, it also has a striking, eye-visible pleochroism. This unique feature appears from light and dark violet to yellow-brown pleochroic colors. But unlike Tanzanite, iolite is hardly ever treated. Its natural violet shade has been popular among customers for years.

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