The Stones of December
Clockwise, left to right, Tanzanite beads, blue Zircon faceted stones, Kingman Turquoise, Sonoran Turquoise beads and Royston Turquoise
December babies are some of the lucky ones who have three birthstones to represent their earth-side arrivals.
The first stone that comes to mind is Zircon. This lovely stone is often confused with manmade cubic zirconia due to its name, and it can exhibit fire similar to that of a diamond. It is the oldest mineral on earth and can be found in jewelry in a range colors from brilliant blues to warm, smoky browns, fiery reds and even deep greens. It is mainly mined in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
December babies are some of the lucky ones who have three birthstones to represent their earth-side arrivals.
Next is Tanzanite. Mined and named for Tanzania, Africa, this stone was discovered quite a bit later than most, in the late 1960s. Top quality Tanzanite is trichroic, displaying flashes of red in a deep violet-to-blue body. Lesser quality Tanzanite is a lovely choice as well, and can be found in shades of purple and purply-blues.
The third birthstone of December is Turquoise. This one is my personal favorite and can be found all over the world, with some of the highest quality rough (uncut chunks of stone from the mine) coming from right here in the southwest United States. Turquoise comes in its signature color (turquoise, ha!), but also light and deep greens, brownish greens and combinations and variations of them all. It can even be found with lavender tones. You can choose solid colors like the well-known Sleeping Beauty material or stones with matrix like Royston or Sonoran Gold. There seems to be some thing for everyone and you're sure to find a variety you like!
Well, December baby, which is your favorite?