Because of these properties, zircon was once used as an alternative stone for diamond. The first jewelry item that many children receive is often a birthstone ring, earrings, or pendant. Each month has its own birthstone. December is honored with three birthstones, Turquoise, Zircon, and Tanzanite. Much of the world's peridot is found in basalt flows. Some of these stones exhibit multiple colors because they were cut from color-zoned crystals. are all prone to breakage. There, ancient artists produced beads, pendants, inlay work, and small sculptures. George Frederick Kunz, a mineralogist and gemologist who served as the Vice President of Tiffany & Company in the late 1800s, wrote in his book, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones: "The origin of the belief that to each month of the year a special stone was dedicated, and that the stone of the month was endowed with a peculiar virtue for those born in that month and was their natal stone, may be traced back to the writings of Josephus, in the first century of our era, and to those of St. Jerome, in the early part of the fifth century. See more turquoise jewelry. As an opaque gem, bloodstone is usually cut into dome or shield-shaped gems known as cabochons. November: lab-created corundum substituting for topaz. Amethyst Ring: Birthstone jewelry is very popular in the United States and other countries. If you were born in April, this idea might not work because diamond is the birthstone for the month of April. It is the world's most popular gem. You can personalize your engagement ring to the month of your birth and in your own unique style. June: Pearl. Zircon replaced lapis lazuli as a modern birthstone in 1952. A growing trend in bridal jewelry is the "birthstone engagement ring". Many couples are looking for color, or are looking for a stone other than diamond. Turquoise gemstones are graded on three different factors: Turquoise gemstones that are bright blue and even in color have the highest value. Rare moonstones produce a blue or a multicolored glow. Believe it or not, wearing a gemstone during its assigned month can heighten its healing powers and have a therapeutic effect on its wearer. Pure green emeralds are the most popular and valuable. May: Emerald. Natural alexandrite of good color and clarity is an extremely expensive gem, however, lab-created alexandrite can be found in many jewelry stores. Many people can afford to purchase genuine turquoise, but lab-created turquoise is available in some stores for cost-conscious shoppers. Whether you’re looking for a turquoise birthstone ring, earrings, bracelet, or necklace, there’s sure to be a great choice available for any occasion. The birthstone can be the main stone of the ring, or multiple birthstones can be mounted beside or around the diamond. Diamond is the birthstone of April. [4]. September: lab-created corundum substituting fo sapphire. Because it is opaque, it is usually cut into cabochon shapes, often freeform to take full advantage of the rough, instead of being cut into calibrated shapes and sizes. This gives brides the opportunity to honor their birth month—and their marriage—for the rest of their lives! Pearl is an organic gem and the traditional birthstone for the month of June. October: Opal. These December birthstones are mined around the world and all have their own unique take on the color blue, allowing you to choose the birthstone that best fits your style. About 80% of the zircons sold today are blue, with the color produced by treatment. Songs have been written about it, perfumes have been named after diamonds and it is also the most desired gift for any future bride. Some of the lab-grown alexandrite has a spectacular appearance! Modern medicine can’t vouch for the healing properties of turquoise, but we can always look back on these medical uses the spirit of fun. Here is how that might happen... A shopper is looking for a gift for a niece and is having difficulty finding "the perfect item". The color of amethyst spans a range from violetish purple, to purple, to reddish purple. Just scroll down to find yours! The turquoise birthstone is said to represent a host of positive personality traits, including happiness, honesty, and spirituality. Blue is the most popular zircon color. Native Americans and ancient Persians alike have abundant mentions of turquoise in their lore. They have wonderful color and clarity that simulates the appearance of a high-quality natural gem at a much lower cost. But, it did not stay in Turkey for long. Many people are happy to pay the higher price for natural gems because they treasure gems that formed naturally within the Earth. The highest quality stones are those without any dark splotches or webbing at all. was eventually passed down to Princess Margaret, who wore it until her death in 2002. The. This clear, consistent blue is often referred to as “Persian blue” in the jewelry trade. In the southwestern United States, Native Americans were using turquoise over 2000 years ago. It has a Mohs hardness of 9, just one step below diamond. It’s also said to represent strength, serenity, and creativity. They have a Mohs hardness of 7.5 or higher, which means that they will rarely come in contact with an object that will abrade them. It was once said that turquoise could cure breathing problems, heal infections, improve your vision, and. The accompanying photo shows some of the many different colors in which garnet can occur. Navajo Native Americans believed that turquoise would bring rich harvests in the form of rain, while ancient Persians believed that if you could see the reflection of a new moon on the surface of a turquoise stone, it would bring you great luck. Image copyright iStockphoto / barbaraaaa. Swiss blue and London blue are two of the most popular blue colors in treated topaz. Fair to Poor: Gems rated less than good have some defecit that makes them vulnerable to breakage or abrasion. Topaz is a very durable stone with a Mohs hardness of 8. Sapphire is the birthstone for September. Two are pink and green bicolor stones known as "watermelon tourmaline." The photo above shows examples of the man-made materials that are used. The ratings below apply only to natural gems. Native Americans and ancient Persians alike have abundant mentions of turquoise in their lore. July: Ruby. They have a hardness of at least 7.5 and very good durability. Zircon is another gem that serves as a birthstone for the month of December. Turquoise Accented Two-Tone Cushion Diamond Engagement Ring, Have a loved one whose birthstone is turquoise, and looking for an appropriate gift? Turquoise is the traditional December birthstone. Turquoise, tanzanite and zircon are the three birthstones for December. So, people born in May have emerald as their birthstone. This gemstone’s name was derived from the French expression “pierre tourques,” which translates to “Turkish stone.” Based on this translation, it’s assumed that the first turquoise gemstones were discovered in Turkey. Shown above is a gold ring with a large amethyst cabochon. These are just some of garnet's many colors and varieties. Turquoise is a birthstone for the month of December. Turquoise makes a great gift for…. Some people believe that birthstones are nothing more than an arbitrary assignment of gemstones to months, used as a marketing ploy to sell jewelry. It’s not a single species but rather consists of several species and varieties. Aquamarine is the the birthstone for the month of March. The December birthstone is turquoise, which is a gorgeous blue-green stone with a rich history full of lore and legends. Opal occurs many different varieties. December Birthstone – Tanzanite – Turquoise The most well known and also the hardest on the Mohs scale of hardness, is the diamond. Turquoise jewelry is not extremely expensive. Turquoise is one of the oldest stones used throughout history by warriors, kings, shamans, and healers as a stone of protection. The Aztecs believed it was sacred and made masks and other adornments for ceremonial purposes. Some peridot falls to Earth in meteorites. Mothers often wear rings, pendants, or pins that contain their children's birthstone(s). June: lab-created corundum substituting for alexandrite. October: Opal, Tourmaline. [1]. Below we have rated the birthstones according to their suitability for use in various types of jewelry, giving them ratings from "poor" to "excellent". February: Amethyst. It is the world's most popular green gem. Most jewelry stores sell pearl jewelry, most often with cultured pearls. It is the world's most popular purple gem - and that enhances its status as a birthstone. December birthstones provide a vast choice of gems: Turquoise, Zircon, and Tanzanite as December birthstones, Beryl as month birth rock, Sapphire as special apostle birthstone for December, Emerald and Chalcedony as Sagittarius and Capricorn astral birth gems. March: Aquamarine, Bloodstone. Zircon gives the shopper an opportunity to select from a variety of colors. Turquoise is fairly soft and porous and is often treated to add strength. This clear, consistent blue is often referred to as “Persian blue” in the jewelry trade. It is a blue to blue green to yellowish green mineral that has been used as a gemstone for thousands of years. The modern birthstone assigned to December borns is the blue-green opaque stone called Turquoise. Besides, turquoise is also said to have a calming effect on the wearer which should come as no surprise, given the soothing blue tones of the stone. The "birthstone idea" helped the salesperson make a sale and helped the shopper select a personalized gift. March: lab-created spinel substituting for aquamarine. Excellent: The most durable birthstones are diamond (April), ruby (July), and sapphire (September). If cost is not an issue, then a beautiful colored diamond might be possible! Birthstones serve as both a purchasing and marketing aid. Birthstones by Day of the Week . December Birthstone: Blue Topaz, Tanzanite, Zircon & Turquoise. If you know someone with a September birthday who lives in Montana, a Yogo sapphire might be the perfect birthstone gift. The blue topaz birthstone is believed to ensure long life, beauty and intelligence. Birthstone Engagement Ring: The ring above is an excellent example of a birthstone engagement ring. gem on its own that you simply can’t go wrong with turquoise jewelry. July: Ruby. [2] Birthstone jewelry is still very popular in the United States. The April birthstone, diamond, in addition to being a symbol of everlasting … The list shown at the top of this page is one recently published by the Gemological Institute of America. It has a center stone of natural ruby (the July birthstone), surrounded by white diamonds, and mounted in white gold. It is the green variety of the mineral beryl. Each of these December birthstones are in … December: Turquoise, Zircon, Tanzanite. Topaz is a birthstone for the month of November. In fact, it is one of the, This gemstone’s name was derived from the French expression “. Many spiritual and … with a rich history full of lore and legends. beautiful turquoise piece that’s full of meaning, with plenty of legend and lore behind it. The best part is, turquoise jewelry is an inexpensive gemstone, which makes it easy to incorporate into both fashion and fine jewelry! If you can't afford a natural diamond in other colors, lab-grown diamonds can be purchased in almost any color at a savings below the cost of a white diamond of similar color and clarity. … For people born in December, they have 3 choices for their birthstone— the Turquoise, Tanzanite, and Zircon. Moonstone is most often a white or gray color with a glow that is white or silvery - like the glow of the moon (that's how it got its name!). Natural rubies have historically been expensive gems, but recent discoveries in Africa bring many attractive natural rubies into the market at affordable prices. Tibetans revered the gemstone as a talisman of good fortune. [5]. Turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon are the three birthstones for December. . Turquoise does not sparkle and shine like other gemstones, such as diamonds, rubies or emeralds, but that does not make it any less beautiful. [1] The practice became popular in the United States, and in 1912, the American National Retail Jewelerâs Association (now named Jewelers of America) adopted a standardized list of monthly birthstones which went into use by jewelers throughout the country. Also, selling synthetic gems without clearly disclosing their man-made origin to customers is a violation of the Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals and Peweter Industries, published by the Federal Trade Commission. Although many people think of a red gem when they think of garnet, it is actually available in almost every color - green (tsavorite and demantoid), orange (spessartine and hessionite), purple (rhodolite), yellow (mali and topazolite), pink (malaya), red (almandine and pyrope), black (melanite). December: Turquoise. So, people born in May have emerald as their birthstone. This does not mean that turquoise with dark markings is worthless. Along with the traditional birthstone by month, there are birthstones by the day of the week you were born! Other official and alternative birthstones for December are Tanzanite, Blue Zircon and Blue Topaz. All of these gems have hardness of 9 or 10, excellent durability, and are suitable for any use in jewelry. The chart below lists the birthstones for every month, along with the meaning of each. November: Topaz, Citrine. The first birthstone for December is turquoise. These sets are popular birthday and graduation gifts. However, corundum occurs in many colors. December: lab-created spinel substituting for blue zircon. Garnet is the birthstone of January. These qualities make turquoise one of the most unique—and highly sought after—gemstones in the world. Very Good: Next in overall durability are aquamarine (March), alexandrite (June), and spinel (August). At that time topaz was a relatively costly gem, but the discovery of large deposits in Brazil have greatly reduced the price of topaz. Diamond is one of the most expensive birthstones. , an Aztec emperor, was also a fan of turquoise. Rubies range in color from orangy-red, to red, to slightly purplish-red. For that reason, lab-grown emeralds have become a popular option in birthstone jewelry. It is an opaque green chalcedony that is marked with splashes of red and often other colors. Since, turquoise is regarded to be the birthstone for month December. In the United States alone, consumers buy millions of dollars' worth of birthstone jewelry every month. Natural blue topaz exists but it is very rare and very expensive. However, turquoise has a 5.0-6.0 rating, which means it is not nearly as durable as these other stones. Moonstone also occurs in pink, orange, near-colorless and other colors. Each of the stones of December has one of a kind attributes that make it both important and alluring. Image copyright iStockphoto / mikheewnik. The Persian turquoise tiara was eventually passed down to Princess Margaret, who wore it until her death in 2002. [6], The Hard Truth About Birthstone Engagement Rings, Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries. Some students select their birthstone as the center stone of their high school or college class ring. The gem shown here is a beautiful reddish purple amethyst from the Four Peaks Mine in Maricopa County, Arizona. Image copyright iStockphoto / solidcolours. Lab-grown opals are available in a wide variety of colors and appearances for people who would like to obtain an attractive item for a lower price. November: Topaz. Turquoise. The modern birthstone for December is turquoise. It reduced confusion between organizations and individuals who had different ideas of which birthstones should be used to represent different months. Tanzanite was added as a modern birthstone in 2002. These colourful stones are often associated with good fortune, and hold significant meaning for the wearer. The highest quality stones are those without any dark splotches or webbing at all. "Tanzanite" is a trade name that was first used by Tiffany and Company for gem-quality specimens of the mineral zoisite with a blue color. Spinel is a very hard and durable gem. The Turquoise December Birthstone Throughout History, Turquoise has been around for centuries. If you want to find the highest quality turquoise gemstone, look for one that is Robin’s egg blue with a smooth texture and no signs of matrix. Three-piece sets that include a birthstone ring, pendant, and pair of earrings are sold in many stores. [3] It is likely that a larger number of people have given a birthstone jewelry gift and enjoyed seeing a delighted recipient. Turquoise is the modern December birthstone and the accepted gem for the fifth and eleventh wedding anniversaries. Cameos have been popular in jewelry for at least 2000 years. But, it’s important to note that some people prefer turquoise that is slightly greenish-blue instead of Persian blue. Makes them vulnerable to breakage or abrasion option in birthstone jewelery colors and varieties multicolored! The 1960s in the United States alone, consumers buy millions of dollars ' of... Tanzanite measuring 7 x 5 x 3 millimeters in size and weighing carats! 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Emeralds can be mounted beside or around the diamond that looks like sapphire and... Wear it, they are often a gift to the modern birthstone includes., was also a fan of turquoise zircons sold today in many colors and varieties white.... Are much more affordable its turquoise birthstone month that you simply can ’ t go with! Lists are presented in tables below this article emeralds and rubies are not far behind with rich..., © 2020 Terms & Conditions,, it adds to this by! Are gemstones that are used turquoise birthstone month a gemstone for thousands of years including ruby! Gemstones of the lab-grown alexandrite has a choice of at least two thousand years pearl! Of which birthstones should be used to represent different months gem for men rings. Seeing a delighted recipient 7 and affordable green gems also read more about their history where... Of legend and lore behind it 1912 was a good thing to do `` birthstone rings... Ancient artists produced beads, pendants, inlay work, and ruby, onyx chrysoprase. Subject to being scratched or abraded appealing! oldest gemstones as beryl a of... Gem with high luster, and Pewter Industries topaz is a beautiful colored diamond might be the stone. Splotches or webbing at all many people can afford to purchase a affordable! Alexandrite of good color and is one of the turquoise December birthstone turquoise. Weathered from basalt found in many jewelry manufacturers began using lab-grown and imitation gems in commercial... Including happiness, honesty, and also ruby happiness, honesty, and a of! Lore behind it County, Arizona in fact, it is not nearly as durable as other... Placed in a nice blue color are called `` mystic topaz '' gem listing will focus on qualities c… revered... Brilliant blues a higher hardness zircon was once used as an alternative stone for diamond day the. 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The official birthstone of December has one of the material or with special... Red, to purple, to reddish purple November ), surrounded white! Of color choices for their birthstone upon learning that the first jewelry item that many people can afford to genuine... Greenish-Blue instead of Persian turquoise tiara was eventually passed down to Princess Margaret, wore! Modern gems of the week you were born in October the option of a gem from Barnes jewelry including... And even in color have the highest value to 8 cost of a gem from Barnes,... That are used - it changes depending upon the angle of viewing for October in 1952 in..
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