Magical December Birthstones – Turquoise Tanzanite and Zircon

If you are lucky enough to celebrate your birthday at DecemberYou have three great options birthstonewhich cover Tanzanite, Turquoise and Zircon.

At Serendipity Diamonds showroom and workshop on the Isle of Wight, we create many jewelery designs every year. We create a variety of designs with all December birthstones. Jewelry includes ready-to-wear items from our storefront and a variety of custom designs created individually for clients.

Tanzanite – No.1 Birthstone Choice for December

Tanzanite is the most popular birthstone choice for December. This luxurious gemstone attracts buyers with its extraordinary range of purple to blue colors.

But what is Tanzanite? Interestingly, this extraordinary gemstone is a variation of the mineral Zoisite. Tanzanite is available in a variety of colors ranging from blue to purplish blue.

This coloring occurs due to the presence of the element Vanadium in the mineral.

As its name suggests, Tanzanite originates from Tanzania—a gemstone prized for its stunning color and rarity. Crystal trichroism causes the purple color to vary under different conditions.

When mined, most Tanzanite has a reddish-brown tinge, which is removed by heat treatment to enhance the blue-purple color of the gemstone. For this reason, most Tanzanite is heat treated to improve its color.

History and Origin of Tanzanite

Commonly known as the modern gemstone. Tanzanite was discovered in late 1967 in the Merelani Hills near Arusha, Tanzania, by Maasai herders. It is located very close to the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. News spread quickly, and the government gave permission to start mining.

Initially, it was thought to be a sapphire mine. However, it was quickly identified based on its crystal structure as a type of bright blue zoisite, a mineral that has been around since the early 1800s.

After that, Tanzanite became more popular as an affordable gemstone compared to sapphire.

A rounded example of Tanzanite showing the typical blue-purple color associated with this type of gemstone.

Our ring examples come from our bespoke jewelry service and are made in 950 Platinum. Unique Blue Tanzanite adds contrast with the tiny 1 mm diamond. The diamonds add incredible sparkle. Additionally, the unique effect varies from other halo style settings

Tanzanite was added to December birthstones as recently as 2002.

In fact, the name ‘Zoisite’ was avoided due to its similarity to the word ‘suicide’. Therefore, the name Tanzanite is used as a more appropriate name for this extraordinary gemstone.

Eleanor’s halo ring features incredible blue Tanzanite surrounded by diamonds.

For jewelry designs, we recommend Tanzanite for earrings and pendants. Tanzanite engagement rings require care when worn. This semi-brittle gemstone is more susceptible to damage than diamonds or sapphires. Therefore, we never recommend this gemstone to clients who are worried about damaging their ring.

Turquoise is another popular December birthstone.

Opaque Turquoise gemstone is different from Tanzanite and Zircon. It comes from many sources around the world, including Iran, Sinai, the United States, and even China. In contrast, gemstones like Tanzanite come from only one source.

Turquoise gets its name from a 17th century word meaning Turkish.

Turquoise color varies from white to pale blue. However, most people associate Turquoise with its distinctive blue-green color.

Historically, polished turquoise features in ancient and modern jewelry. For example, from ancient Egypt, we see Pharaonic treasures encrusted with turquoise.

Inexpensive turquoise jewelry often features synthetic forms of this gemstone. For example, fashion jewelry sets with synthetic Turquoise varieties make it a popular and affordable accessory. As a result, we found the price of Turquoise across jewelry varies greatly.

Available from our Showroom collection. Available in sterling silver teardrop turquoise pendant and matching earrings.

Because of the opacity of Turquoise, Cabochon cuts are often used in a variety of jewelry styles. Most gemstones have angular facets to reflect light. In contrast, the Cabochon cut lacks any aspect. In addition, it is usually dome-shaped with a flat base.

Measuring a six on the Mohs scale, Turquoise’s hardness is comparable to that of glass. Turquoise often varies in color, with characteristic dark spots caused by limonite.

Zircon Gemstone

Zircon appears in a variety of colors, including blue, yellow, orange and red. This transparent crystal gemstone belongs to the neosilicate mineral group.

The name comes from the German word ‘Zircon’. This, in turn, comes from the Persian word ‘Zargun,’ which means golden color.

History and Origin

Zircon is more than 4.4 billion years old and is considered the oldest mineral on Earth. Commonly found in sand and sedimentary deposits, as well as metamorphic rocks and crystallized magma.

Due to its chemical makeup, Zircon has been subjected to geological events such as erosion and pressure changes over the centuries.

Zircon contains the radioactive element uranium, which changes the chemical structure and color of the gemstone over time, giving us important clues about the formation of the planet.

During the Middle Ages, people believed that zircon gemstones could induce sound sleep, ward off evil, and bring prosperity and wisdom.

Pink Zircon – available to purchase as loose stones or sets and finished into jewelry items.

Blue zircons were popular during the Victorian era and were frequently used in jewelry from the 1880s. The cloudy or smoky look of zircon is very popular in mourning jewelry designs.

In the 1920s, heat treatment became common practice to enhance the color of zircon gemstones for jewelry. Zircon has also been used in the decorative ceramics industry.

Although Zircon is a popular gemstone among collectors due to its variety of colors, consumers seem most enamored with the blue variety. I need clarification on the history and possibilities of this expensive gemstone.

December Birthstone – Blue Zircon

Large zircon crystals are rare in nature. Occasionally, we work with Blue Zircon. Additionally, we source each gemstone individually for each commission. Its beauty and rarity make it a gemstone that is much sought after and often requested by jewelry connoisseurs. In conclusion, this is one of the rare choices for a December birthstone.

Close-up of Oval Blue Zircon cut

Blue Zircon Jewelry

One of the stunning Blue Zircon rings created by our team features the top gemstone set into a halo ring.

We handcrafted this bespoke ring design made from 18 carat Yellow Gold. Additionally, the ring features natural white diamonds in the halo and along the shoulder.

This Blue Zircon and diamond halo ring is handcrafted by our team at Serendipity Diamonds, crafted from 18 carat Yellow Gold.

December Birthstone Gift Inspiration

Recently, we added a new set of jewelery to our showroom collection. Tanzanite flower earrings make the perfect gift for a December birthday. Plus, a matching Tanzanite necklace makes the perfect jewelry set for December’s birthstone.

Contact us for more information, or visit our Ryde showroom to find alternative gifts available.

More help and guidance on December birthstones

Contact us for further assistance and guidance regarding any jewelry items featuring December birthstone options. We provide a complete bespoke design service. This includes free help and guidance with no obligation to purchase. Our team is on hand in our UK showroom to offer assistance Monday to Saturday.