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December Birthstones: Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon

Born in December · 3 birthstones

TurquoiseTanzaniteZircon

December has three birthstones, and all of them are blue. Turquoise is the sky-blue to green stone used for thousands of years. Tanzanite is a blue-violet gem found in only one place on earth. Zircon sparkles brightly and comes in many colors, with blue the most loved.

About Turquoise

🎨 Colors

Sky blue to green, often with dark veins. The even 'robin's egg blue' from Iran is the most famous.

🪨 Hardness (Mohs scale)

5-6

🌍 Where it comes from

Iran has mined it for more than 1,000 years. China is the largest producer today, and Arizona and Nevada are U.S. sources.

📜 Story and old beliefs

It decorates King Tut's funeral mask.

From the 1200s, people believed it protected riders from falling off their horses.

Apache stories say you can find it at the end of a rainbow.

About Tanzanite

🎨 Colors

Rich blue to violet.

🪨 Hardness (Mohs scale)

6-7

🌍 Where it comes from

Only the Merelani Hills of northern Tanzania.

📜 Story and old beliefs

It was found in Tanzania in the 1960s and named after the country.

Tiffany & Co. made it famous with an ad campaign in 1968.

About Zircon

🎨 Colors

Blue, colorless, red, orange, yellow, brown and green.

🪨 Hardness (Mohs scale)

6-7.5

🌍 Where it comes from

Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia.

📜 Story and old beliefs

In the Middle Ages, people believed it helped with deep sleep and kept bad spirits away.

In Hindu tradition it is one of the nine navaratna gems.

Victorians loved blue zircon in their jewelry.

For a Baby Born in December

December babies arrive in the coldest, most festive month, and all three of their stones are wintry blue. Turquoise's old stories are about protection and good luck, and zircon's are about deep, peaceful sleep - a wish every new parent will share. Icy blues and teal make a calm winter theme.

Keepsake Ideas

A turquoise or tanzanite in a keepsake box for a later birthday

A blue zircon charm for a parent

A teal memory book for the first year

A birth print with their date in winter blue

A blue ornament with their name, added to the tree each year

⚠️ Safety first

Birthstones are keepsakes for later, not jewelry for babies. Do not put necklaces, bracelets, anklets or small stones on a baby or toddler - they can cause choking or strangulation. That includes amber or gemstone 'teething' necklaces, which the U.S. FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics warn against. Keep gems and jewelry out of reach.

December Zodiac Signs

Plan the first birthday →

Quick Answers

What is the birthstone for December?

December has three: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon.

Where does tanzanite come from?

Only from the Merelani Hills in northern Tanzania - it is mined nowhere else.

What does turquoise mean?

By tradition it stands for protection and good luck. These are old beliefs, not facts about the stone.

Stone list and gem facts follow the GIA birthstone guides. Meanings are old traditions and folklore, not facts or health claims.