Photo of December birth stone, tanzanite, by Géry Parent
- What is the birthstone for December?
- What is the December birthstone meaning?
- What is the December birthstone color?
- Where can the December birth stone be found?
- What is the largest tanzanite found?
- What is the largest zircon found?
- What is the largest turquoise found?
- What are the healing powers of the birthstone for December – tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise?
What is the birthstone for December?
There are three December birthstones; tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise.
What is the December birthstone meaning?
Tanzanite is named after the East African state of Tanzania, where it was first found. Zircon is from the Arabic words “zar” and “gun” which means “gold” and “color.” Turquoise means “Turkish stone” in French because it was believed to have been found in Turkey.
What is the December birthstone color?
The December birthstone color is blue. All three of the December birthstones can be found in colors other than blue, but the common theme among them is their radiant blue color for December.
Tanzanite – a brilliant December birthstone color, can be found in a wide range of purples and blues. It is often heat treated to maximize the richness of the natural color in the stone. The most expensive tanzanite stones are typically a vivid violet-blue color.
Zircon can be found in a wide array of colors ranging from colorless to any color of the rainbow. Blue zircon is in higher demand than the other colors and is most often heat treated to create the deep blue tone that it carries.
Turquoise – The most popular most easily identified December birthstone color has a green-blue tint but also can be found in sky blue tones.
Where can the December birth stone be found?
Tanzanite was discovered in the 1960’s in Tanzania, the only place it has been found. Tiffany and Co. is responsible for bringing this vibrant gem to the market after declaring it, “the most beautiful blue stone to be found in 2,000 years.”
Zircon, the second of three birthstones for December, is a naturally formed mineral from zirconium silicate. It was once used to imitate diamonds in its colorless state. Now it is found in colors such as red, blue, yellow, orange, and green.
Turquoise can be found in the United States, Iran, the Sinai, and Egypt. It was first worn by the ancient Egyptians and is also known as the national gem of Tibet. This birthstone for December has been around since the 13th century.
What is the largest tanzanite found?
The largest tanzanite was found in 2005 on Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest mountain. The stone itself weighs 16,839 carats, 6.6 pounds, and is shaped like a brick.
What is the largest zircon found?
The largest zircon gems are found in Southeast Asia. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. currently holds the largest zircon found at 118.1 carats.
What is the largest turquoise found?
The largest turquoise found is in the Shandong Tiyanu Museum of Natural History. It weighs 496 pounds and measures 3’5” long 3’6” high and 10” wide.
What are the healing powers of the birthstone for December – tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise?
Tanzanite helps to relieve stress and lower high blood pressure. Its purpose is to alleviate depression, anxiety, fear, or worry. It can also be used to help increase fertility in women.
Zircon is believed to heal asthma and allergies, gallbladder and liver issues, and promote common sense.
Turquoise is known to ease mental tensions and to relax the mind. Native Americans used to place turquoise on tombstones to protect the dead.
What are the properties of the birthstone for December – tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise?
Tanzanite is a 6.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness and has an orthorhombic crystal structure. Tanzanite can radiate different colors from different angles giving an appearance of color-changing.
Zircon ranges from transparent to opaque and ranges from a 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness.
Turquoise has a waxy luster and ranges from a 5 to 6 on the Mohs Scale.
How do you care for the December birthstones – tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise?
Tanzanite jewelry should be cleaned with warm, soapy water only. It should be kept away from chemicals and extreme temperature changes.
Zircon jewelry’s color can be affected by heat or intense light if it has previously been heat treated. It is recommended to keep it away from prolonged exposure to either of these.
Turquoise jewelry must be worn with special care as it can be damaged from skin oils, cosmetics, and chemicals. Turquoise dissolves when it comes in contact with chemicals, and exposure to heat can result in surface damage.
Each of the December birthstones should be cleaned with warm, soapy water. Ultrasonic cleaners will damage the surface of the stones due to its heat and vibration.
Where can I buy December birthstone rings and jewelry?
Photo gallery of the December birth stone, tanzanite.
See our collection of beautiful photos of the December birth stone collected from Pinterest.
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