These gemstones range from the oldest on Earth to one of the first mined and used in jewelry, to one of the most recently discovered. Eastern Traditions Consequently, faceted specimens are extremely rare. See also Lapis Lazuli: Stone of Purity. Blue Topaz is a cool, crisp blue, making it the perfect choice as a December birthstone. Hardness: 5.5-6.5 The December birthstone color is rather obvious. Read our review…, Bench jewelers work very hard with little or no acknowledgement, creating and repairing treasured possessions. See also The Black Onyx: Stone of Power. What is the December birthstone meaning? However, epidote itself is the one most likely to be faceted…. Crystallography: Amorphous. Among the 3 December birthstones, Tanzanite is the most expensive, due to its rarity. Ready to learn how to identify gems on your own? Color: Mostly red or deep red. One of the most popular traditional jewelry stones, ruby is exceptionally durable. Hardness: 7 Cube and octahedron forms extremely rare. As the birthstone for January, the warm, blood-red garnet stands in contrast to this cold month. Chrysoprase is a birthstone for December in the old Russian calendar. Topaz is the birthstone for December in the Hindu calendar, and is also listed as modern December birthstone in the West, though there the gemstone’s variety specifically designated to be birthstone of December is the blue topaz. January | Garnet. This gemstone for December is a rare opaque stone that occurs in colors ranging from blue to green. Ancient shamans looked to this gem as a talisman of protection, prosperity, and luck. What color is December birthstone? Color: Blue to blue-green. The garnet family is one of the most complex in the gem world. Before the gemstone landed on these ancient calendars as December birthstone, ruby was the zodiac stone for Capricorn, which falls partly on the month of December. Crystallography: Isometric. "Fortune-telling counseling", which finds out the best gemstone for the client, received a high reputation. Turquoise is a modern birthstone of December that has been associated with the month for thousands of years.   |   While there are a number of birthstones associated with December, the official gemstone for December is blue topaz. That’s excellent news if you’re in the market for this January birthstone. In the United States today, people draw freely from both lists and pick the stones that appeal to them. Also those stones are pretty inexpensive so anyone should be able to purchase jewelry made from them. January – Garnet. Crystallography: Hexagonal. Their Pharaohs proudly adorned themselves with the gem as a form of protection, even in the afterlife. While pearls require special care, they have an enduring appeal for jewelry, particularly as the traditional June birthstone. This December birthstone is a variety of chalcedony ranging in color from apple green to deep green. Its pure blue colors and excellent durability make it an exceptional gemstone. Sources: Bolivia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Peru, Russia, South Africa, the United States, and Zambia. Of the two stones, turquoise is the more common birthstone for this month. Hardness: 7.5-8 Explore a range of gemological tests… not only will you get familiar with the process but also time-saving shortcuts. Citrine is the yellow to red-orange variety of crystalline quartz. The September birthstone comes in many colors. The American Gem Trade Association added tanzanite as a December birthstone in 2002. From the fiery … Ruby is both the modern and traditional birthstone for July. Which one is for you? Still, blue is the color of December birthstone widely accepted in modern gemology. The dark red Garnet is believed to protect from harm and promote good … Topaz is the traditional November birthstone. This December birthstone is also … Sources: Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, and the United States. Opals are in a class by themselves. Some traditional gems are also less expensive (like turquoise) or more readily available (like cultivated pearls) than their modern counterparts. However, blue topaz and tanzanite are also modern options. Color: Pearl color is the result of a body color and an overtone color or orient present as a lustrous sheen. There are two birthstones for the month of December, turquoise and zircon. Thus, some traditional stones remain popular. May show color zoning. Golden topaz is now a modern birthstone option. Lapis lazuli is traditionally a birthstone for December. See what’s inside…, • Discover the 17 practical steps to gemstone identification (even if you’re just getting started with gemology), • Learn how you can use specific tools to gather data, make observations & arrive at an accurate ID. Hardness: 6-7.5 Zircon is from the Arabic words “zar” and “gun” which means “gold” and “color.” These tools may not be suitable for gem identification. There are three December birthstones; tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise. It’s not a single species but rather consists of several species and varieties. Sapphire is both the modern and traditional birthstone for September. Shop birthstone jewellery at Peoples Jewellers. Of course, there are the non-conventional birthstones for December, ruby and onyx, adds red and black to the birthstone colors for December, along with green, the color of chrysoprase and often turquoise. Rhodizite is tough enough to make an excellent jewelry stone. Learn more. However, citrine is a more affordable modern option. Color: All varieties of red, from pinkish, purplish, orangey, brownish, to dark red. This December birthstone is a green variety of chalcedony sprinkled with red inclusions, commonly red jasper. It is a blue to blue green to yellowish green mineral that has been used as a gemstone for thousands of years. The Cost of December Birthstones. Beware of cheap “no name” refractometers (and their distributors). It’s not a single species but rather consists of several species and varieties. Gregorian Birthstone Poem. These gems are prized for their classic beauty and clarity, and diamond jewelry has become a status symbol. Pearls are the only gems found within living creatures, both salt and freshwater mollusks. Clever marketing and the rise of “earth tone” fashions have made this durable and readily available gem a popular modern birthstone in recent years. Cultivated pearls are far more attainable than. Crystals rare, usually striated prisms, corroded grains; often as rolled pebbles, or in nodules called bombs in volcanic areas. Crystals prismatic, pyramidal; often twinned; rounded pebbles. This stone for December itself is a relatively recent discovery, having been found only in 1967 in Tanzania, hence the name tanzanite. Crystallography: Hexagonal (trigonal). About & History Tanzanite is named after the East African state of Tanzania, where it was first found. Named after the color of seawater, aquamarine is the blue to blue-green member of the beryl family. Since, Free Engraving on Birthstone Jewelry, Insured Shipping & Lifetime Warranty, Choosing a Ring Style, Setting, and Metal, garnet is commonly associated with the color red, blue is such a popular color for gemstones, Discover the 17 practical steps to gemstone identification (even if you’re just getting started with gemology), Learn how you can use specific tools to gather data, make observations & arrive at an accurate ID. Alexandrite is the modern birthstone for June. We’ll note which stones are the most popular options by month. Color: Colorless, white, yellow, orange, and red (various shades), yellowish brown, greenish, blue, gray, black, violet. Both tourmalines and opals have their aficionados, but opals just edge past them in popularity. The January birthstone, garnet, is thought to keep the wearer safe during travel. As a species, opal is so unique its patterns have their own descriptive vocabulary. To this day, jewelers continue to add options to the modern birthstone chart. This December birthstone is also the planetary stone of Capricorn, which falls partly on the month of December. Featured image credit: Turquoise ring by Mauro Cateb via Wikimedia Commons. Amethyst is both the modern and traditional birthstone for February. 50% off annual memberships! DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES The winter blues have nothing on December’s birthstones: tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise. Although garnet is commonly associated with the color red, these gemstones can be found in almost any color and are popular choices for jewelry of all types. Yoshino is also famous as a fortune teller and seen over 10,000 people. The orient is the color seen as reflected by a diffuse light source. The December gemstone is believed to enhance courage as well as physical strength. (And there are also many different types of alternative birthstone lists to choose from). It has greater resistance to breaking than topaz. There is a Gregorian calendar birthstone poem for each month in the year. Sources: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Vietnam. Coupon: XMASMINI2020. The December birthstone, which happens to be one of the oldest stones known to man, was favoured by the ancient Egyptians. This birthstone of December is a grounding stone believed to protect its wearer from negativity. Lapis lazuli is traditionally a birthstone for December. Learn what gemstone dispersion means, what causes it, and how it relates to other optical effects. Color: Yellow to red-orange, also deep orange and orangey brown. But turquoise and zircon can be difficult to find in fine jewelry, so the new and popular tanzanite was added to the official birthstone list of the American Gem Trade Association in 2002 as an additional birthstone for December. Lapis Lazuli is blue, while chrysoprase is very near blue. The January Birthstone is Garnet. Tanzanite is a modern birthstone for December, having been added as America’s December birthstone only in 2002, while already recognized as December gemstone in Britain by the time. Crystallography: Amorphous. Learn how to get started with the International Gem Society’s guide to gemstone identification. Color: Deep to medium green, blueish green. A beautiful rich colored gem. Turquoise, the oldest birthstone of December, is blue. Terms of Use The modern August birthstone, peridot has been prized as a jewelry stone since ancient times. Home » Learning Center » Gemology » Reference Charts & Materials » Birthstone Chart. What is the birthstone for December? Before the gemstone entered these ancient calendars as December gemstone, turquoise was a zodiac stone for Sagittarius, which falls partly on the month of December. For example, spinel, citrine, and tanzanite are recent additions to the modern list. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist! January Birthstone - Garnet. Major Sources: Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, Australia, India, Namibia, and Nigeria. So, if you want that pearl, turquoise, diamond, and emerald mother’s ring, go for it. Hardness: 9 Topaz, in order to be made December stone, was specified to be blue. Crystallography: Hexagonal Garnet is both the modern and traditional birthstone for January. 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