People born in December get to close out the year on a high note with the choice between three gorgeous different stones: turquoise, zircon and tanzanite. Each of the stones is a striking blue color and available in a broad range of price points to meet any collector’s needs.
Turquoise
Turquoise is one of the most stunning and unique stones in existence. It can range in color from bright blue to vivid green and often has veins streaking through it. It is only a 5-6 on the Mohs hardness scale, so you should take care when wearing it during cleaning or exposing it to extreme temperatures. Unlike tanzanite, turquoise has been around for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, pharaohs and rulers would wear jewelry featuring it. Chinese artisans carved into pieces of it to create pendants and brooches.
Because it has been around for so long, there is a great deal of lore surrounding turquoise. Apache Native Americans believed that the stones could be discovered at the end of a rainbow. In Medieval Europe, giving a turquoise ring meant that you wanted the recipient to never forget you. In Tibet, turquoise is thought to ensure good health, wealth and protection from harm.
Zircon
Zircon is available in a rainbow of colors including red, orange, green, brown and blue. It can be a 6-7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, and it is often heat-treated to make some of the more exotic colors like yellow, orange and red. it is susceptible to scratches, so it’s best to avoid wearing it when you are doing anything physically demanding. Historically, zircon was thought to scare away evil spirits, bring wealth and preserve health. Victorian England jewelers treasured zircon stones and used them throughout fine jewelry pieces.
Tanzanite is one of the most recently-discovered gemstones, as it first was uncovered in the late 1960s. Tiffany & Co. soon became the main distributor of the stone and has become synonymous with the bright blue-purple stone. Depending on the light that you view your stone in, it could appear to be a broad range of colors. Tanzanite is a 6-7 on the Mohs hardness scale and it will hold up well to normal wear outside of sudden temperature changes or abrasive materials. A great deal of tanzanite is originally brown and treated with heat to create a purple-blue shade.
Learn the Value of Your December Birthstone Jewelry
Whether you have a treasured family heirloom or want to see the value of another piece in your collection, SAZ Gem & Jewelry Appraisal is here to help.For more information, give us a call at 425-785-1871.