December Gem Types-Birthstones

We have seen that human beings get affected in their daily lives as per the planetary positions of their ruling planets. Also, based on the birth chart, their month of birth is also associated with gemstones which are traditionally associated with the planets. There are 12 zodiac signs in astrology and there are 12 months in a calendar year. Some gemstones are zodiac sign specific whereas some gemstones are birth month specific. 

Here we are going to describe those gemstones which are associated with the month of December.

Historically, there have been many stories and legends associated with gemstones. The book of Exodus mentions the twelve tribes of Israel and the 12 gemstones associated with it.

As per the legends, wearing birthstones according to its assigned month brought about healings. Different countries and cultures in the world have a different birthstone list. Some were because of the availability of certain gemstones in that region, other times it was because of the faith in particular deities’ blessings.

Among the twelve months, each month is associated with one or two gemstones except the month of December which has multiple gemstones. 

Since December month contains two zodiac signs Sagittarius and Capricorn, there are 13 different stones associated with it.

The calendar month of December has Turquoise, Blue Topaz, Tanzanite as its modern gemstone whereas, Zircon, Onyx, Ruby, Lapis and Chrysoprase are the traditional birthstones. Blue is the color of this month.

The zodiac signs of Sagittarius and Capricorn has Agate, Garnet, Amethyst, Sapphire, and Beryl as the additional stones associated with it. 

Turquoise Gemstone

Turquoise is an ancient December birthstone dating back to 3000 BC. It was also considered as a holy stone. In most cultures, turquoise is also known to have protective powers and placed on weapons, crowns, jewelry, and buildings.

It is also known to cultivate happiness, health, and harmony and is often used as a gift to those celebrating a birthday or marriage. This gemstone is considered anti-inflammatory, fights viral infections and wards off depression and anxiety.

Turquoise gemstone is generally light blue to the bluish green color semi-precious gemstone. This gemstone belongs to the Phosphate family and it is the only gemstone which is not judged on the 4 C’s that is color, cut, carat and clarity, as its physical properties vary a great deal. Its hardness can range from fragile to durable.  Turquoise means “stone from Turkey” in French and in India, it is popularly known as the Feroza stone. This gemstone is found in USA, Mexico, Iran, Egypt, and Israel, with the best quality found in Iran.

Blue Topaz

Blue Topaz is a very popular but inexpensive gemstone.  It has a vibrant blue color that ranges from pale "Sky Blue” to a bright, medium "Swiss Blue," to a dark, smoky "London Blue."  They are originally clear in color but becomes blue after heat treatment.

Blue Topaz is found in Sri Lanka, Brazil, and China.

Tanzanite Gemstone

Tanzanite stone is a relatively new stone as it was discovered only in 1967 in Tanzania and it is the only place where it can be found. Thus, it is an extremely rare and expensive stone and is usually deep purple-blue in color. The expensive quality has traces of red in the blue color while the lighter shades of blue are less expensive. 

This stone is believed to have both physical and mental soothing and calming properties. It is used to enhance interpersonal qualities and also resolve communication issues.

Zircon Gemstone

It is known as the oldest stone to have been found on earth. One of the oldest portions of Zircon was found in Australia when the planet was around 160 million years old.

Zircon stones are traditionally blue in color, being a December birthstone.  However, it also has many other colors depending on the conditions prevailing at the time of its formation. The blue Zircon is majorly found in Cambodia and Myanmar. It is also found as a colorless stone in its purest form.

Apart from Cambodia and Myanmar, it is also found in Brazil, Korea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand.

The stone is known to protect its owner from harm, death, and poison. This gemstone helps spiritually and physically to those individuals with low self-confidence and poor balance.