Looking for gifting inspiration for someone born in December or perusing a present for yourself? December birthstone jewellery is the perfect gift for someone born in the twelfth month of the year. Not only will it convince them that you thought *extra* hard about what to get them amidst buying a present for every other person in your life at Christmas, it will also give them something to treasure for life.
And to make things really easy, those born in December are blessed with not one, not two, but three birthstones, so there’s a plethora of choice for seasonal gifting.
Tanzanite, turquoise and zircon are all December birthstones and come in a beautiful array of blue and purple hues so you really do have your pick of the bunch.
Not only do they look good, birthstones are also imbued with mythology and healing powers, so it's little wonder they have been treasured since ancient times when 12 stones were associated with the 12 signs of the zodiac.
So what are the stories behind tanzanite, turquoise and zircon, and how can they work their magic? Read on to discover everything you need to know about December's three birthstones, as well as the best to shop for every budget.
Theodora Warre Zircon & gold-plated snake-chain braceletFallon Doughnut zircon & 14kt gold-plated hoop earringsWhy does December have multiple birthstones?
Traditionally each month has just one birthstone but over the years, some months have adopted more birthstones. The reason? To allow more affordable options in addition to the traditional, more expensive stones. The final attempt to standardise the birthstone system came in October 2002 when December was given a third birthstone option - the most birthstones of any month of the year.
What are the three birthstones of December?
Turquoise, named after its striking blue hue, is the oldest of the three December gem stones and has been prized since ancient times. Chinese artisans carved it more than 3,000 (!) years ago and pharaohs and super senior ancient Egyptians adorned themselves with the gem. Why? Back in the 13th century, people were convinced that wearing turquoise would stop them falling off horses (their main method of transport pre-Uber), whilst Native Americans would attach it to their bow or firearm to enhance their aim. People were also convinced that turquoise would warn them off impending doom by smashing into several pieces at the approach of disaster, which is pretty damn handy.
Turquoise has also long been prized as the stone to wear for wealth, and the Native Americans were so convinced by the mystical prowess of turquoise, they thought you'd find it at the end of a rainbow. In Tibet, turquoise is a national treasure and thought to grant a peaceful and healthy life full of good fortune and protection from evil (#need).
Turquoise is a semi-translucent to opaque gem and can come in beautiful hues of powdery blue to greenish robin’s egg blue. As one of the few minerals to lend its name to anything that resembles its colour, it's thought that turquoise either got its hue from the sky or from lizards scurrying over the earth. You may have noticed that the stone is often punctuated by veins of matrix, which are the result of remnants of the rock in which it formed.
Pippa Small 18-karat gold tanzanite earringsJacquie Aiche 14-karat gold, diamond and tanzanite necklaceZircon is the second December birthstone and it really is an underrated gemstone that’s often confused with the less impressive synthetic cubic zirconia. Colourless zircon is, however, prized for its brilliance and its radiant style has often led people to confuse it with diamond. Colourless zircon is probably the most popular variant, but it also cones in yellow, green, red, reddish brown and, of course, blue.
People used zircon in the Middle Ages to aid sleep and ward off evil spirits. Today, zircon is used in meditation because it can apparently bolster mental strength, as well as bring visions and dreams to reality.
Still with me? The third and final December birthstone is tanzanite, which is the newest of the trio but probably the most exciting due its recent discovery and availability in just one part of the world. Discovered in 1962, it is named for its limited geographic origin in Tanzania and boasts a deep, velvety and saturated colour (think bold violets and deliciously pure blues). It has since been hailed a ‘gemstone of a generation’ so you get the gist: it's pretty major.
Avid jewellery fans may well recognise the gem from Tiffany & Co.'s 1968 advertising campaign after the iconic jewellery house became the main distributor of the fashionable gem stone, catapulting it to international acclaim.
What is the rarest December birthstone?
Tanzanite is without a doubt the rarest and most exclusive gem - because there is literally just one place on Earth that you can find it and if you want to get your hands on it, you'll have to trek all the way up Mount Kilimanjaro. The unique conditions here help form the gemstone, which is actually even rarer than diamonds. Ooooooh.
Jade Jagger Diamond, tanzanite & 18kt gold ringRachel Jackson Birthstone December 22ct gold-plated sterling-silver and tanzanite bangleWhat is the oldest birthstone for December?
Turquoise is the oldest of all three December birthstones and has a particularly long history; it is actually one of the earliest stones known to be used in jewellery. Its use dates way back to the Aztecs, who used turquoise to make masks and other ceremonial objects. It was hugely popular among pharaohs and rulers in Ancient Egypt and a tomb excavated in 1900 found the remains of Queen Zer, a ruler from 5500 B.C.E, who was adorned in four turquoise bracelets. Persians were also avid fans of the gem stone and decorated their thrones, weapons and crockery with turquoise. The royals are huge fans, too. Wallace Simpson, aka The Duchess of Windsor, proudly donned a turquoise and amethyst Cartier necklace on the reg.
After more jewellery content? You're in luck because we've got plenty, including gold jewellery, gold hoop earrings and initial pendants. We've also got friendship bracelets, pearl jewellery, unique engagement rings, Missoma jewellery, Monica Vinader jewellery, resin rings a la Dua Lipa and clip on earrings (yes, really).
Scroll through our edit of December birthstone jewellery to shop now and wear forever…
Missoma December Birthstone 18ct yellow gold-plated vermeil sterling-silver and magnesite pendant necklaceLa Maison Couture Sandy Leong Dot December birthstone recycled 18ct yellow gold and blue topaz necklaceDecember Birthstone O Pendant SetYvonne Léon 9-karat gold, turquoise and topaz braceletMaria Tash diamond, turquoise & 18kt gold earringSydney Evan butterfly 14-karat gold, tanzanite and diamond braceletDecember Birthstone Stud Earrings in SilverLizzie Mandler December birthstone turquoise & 18kt gold necklaceTurquoise and Baroque Pearl EarringsStone and Strand gold, tanzanite and diamond necklaceTheodora Warre Zircon & gold-plated sterling silver hoop earringsAmina Muaddi Lily silver-tone crystal hoop earringsDecember Birthstone Beaded RingPascale Monvoisin Arles 9-karat gold, turquoise and diamond single earringDesignB London engraved ring with turquoise stone in gold toneSmall Classic 18-karat gold tanzanite earringsncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLjApqauqp2WtKLGyKecZ5ufY8Kse8Crq6KbnJp8pbHCnqSbnaJir6q%2B06Gqraeemg%3D%3D