December Birthstones: Turquoise, Tanzanite, & Zircon
One of the benefits of being born in December is a wide range of options when it comes to birthstones. Not only are there three choices, tanzanite and zircon can come in virtually any color imaginable, and can be heat-treated to change or restore colors. Turquoise is widely recognized and has been a staple of cultures throughout history. The other two stones, however, are legends in the gemology community. Tanzanite is the newest gemstone recognized as a birthstone, while zircon is the oldest. However you want to celebrate the December birthday in your life, you’ll be sure to find the perfect gift with one of these storied gemstones involved. Starting with turquoise, probably the most commonly known among non-jewelers. This blue and/or green gemstone is directly associated with the American Southwest. New Mexico was the main culprit for years, but in the early 1900s, Nevada and Arizona took over as the main exporting states. For over 1,000 years, Iran was home to a massive deposit and numerous mines that were producing tons of turquoise. Flash forward to present day, and China is producing the most turquoise out of anywhere in the world. This gorgeous stone has long been held in high regard by numerous cultures. In ancient Egypt, the ruling class often sported turquoise ornaments. Most namely, King Tut’s funerary mask was covered with turquoise stones. In the Western Hemisphere, native tribes loved using turquoise, and were believers in the powers within. The Apache tribe believed that turquoise could be found by following a rainbow to the end. They also would decorate their weapons with the sky-blue gemstone in hopes of improving accuracy and effectiveness. Slightly further South, the Pueblo tribe believed the stone got its light blue color thanks to the sky over their heads. However, not all mined or found turquoise comes in the iconic baby blue color so commonly associated with the December birthstone. A lot of turquoise stones are heat-treated with acrylics or epoxy to improve the color and hardness, as it typically rates as a 5-6 on MOH’s Scale. As previously mentioned, tanzanite is a Rockstar in the gemology community for being the most recent gemstone discovered. If its name didn’t tip you off, the original tanzanite stones were discovered in Tanzania in the mid-1900s. Most of the tanzanite mined comes out of the ground a brownish color, and is then heat-treated to get the blue and purple hues it’s so well known for. These colors have given the stone a reputation for looking velvety, and while both colors are beautiful, the blue variations are considered more valuable. Not necessarily a soft gemstone, tanzanite is also not considered a hard gemstone, meaning it’s better used in pendants and earrings instead of rings or bracelets that get heavy usage. Even with its recent birthdate, tanzanite is believed to break down negativity, turning things towards the positive. It also apparently helps the wearer realize the balance between personal power and actualization. Unfortunately, since the stone is found only in one location on the planet, the supply is undoubtedly limited. This means one day, sooner than later, the last tanzanite stones on Earth will be pulled up. Instead of panicking, make sure to get your hands on a piece of this dazzling bluish purple gemstone for yourself. Value will surely skyrocket. The third, and final, birthstone of December is the famed zircon. This stone couldn’t be much more different than its previously mentioned counterpart, tanzanite. While one is the most recent gemological discovery, zircon is far-and-away the oldest gemstone we’ve discovered. The vast majority of zircon stones are billions of years old, with the oldest ever discovered coming in at a whopping 4.4 billion years old. If the depth of that statement fails to blow your mind, this surely will… the most recent calculations of the planet’s age is 4.543 billion years. Zircon has been around for nearly the entirety of our home-planet’s life. Forming and surviving on a volcanic, toxic, asteroid-magnet of a planet. We could all learn a little something about resilience from the gemstone, zircon. This amazing stone is found in many colors, but blue is the most common. It is often heat-treated once mined to achieve either blue or clear results, the latter often was used as a diamond substitute in the 1800s for engagement rings. Zircon is most commonly found in Australia and Sri Lanka, with other deposits located in countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia. The famous 4.4 billion year-old zircon stone was uncovered in Australia. Stop by Malak Jewelers today to browse our collection of turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon jewelry, other gemstones, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, 22k gold, vintage estate jewelry, rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and other fine jewelry. We are located in South Charlotte, North Carolina, in The Arboretum Shopping Center at the corner of Providence Road and Pineville-Matthews / Highway 51. We are open from 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday.