An alternative birthstone for December. This necklace is made from natural turquoise beads from Arizona. 14KY lobster clasp. Traditional and beautiful.
Turquoise
Tag: December Birthstone
Tanzanite, December Birthstone
Tanzanite, another December Birthstone is the blue and violet variety of the mineral zoisite, from Tanzania. It has a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Tanzanite is noted for its trichroism, appearing alternately blue, violet and burgundy depending on crystal orientation. Blues appear more evident in fluorescent light and violet hues can be seen under incandescent light. In its rough state tanzanite is colored a reddish-brown to clear, and it requires heat treatment to remove the brownish veil and bring out the blue-violet of the stone.
The gemstone was given the name “tanzanite” by Tiffany & Co. after Tanzanite, the country in which it was discovered. In 2002, the American Gem Trade Association chose tanzanite as a December birthstone.
Zircon, December Birthstone
Zircon is one of December’s birthstones. It is a colorful gem with high refraction and fire that’s unfairly confused with cubic zirconia. It is a completely distinct, natural species, found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, and Australia. Zircon comes in blue, white, yellow, purple, green, gray, red, pink, orange, and brown. Its hardness is 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Shown here is a stunning 12mm trillion blue zircon with .24ct Diamond set in 18KY.
Zircon
Another alternative December birthstone. Not to be confused with Cubic Zircon (synthetic diamond). This sparkly pear shaped blue zircon from Cambodia and diamond pendant is entirely hand fabricated in 18KY. Come to our Lenox Gallery to see a wide selection of zircon colors, shapes, and sizes, all precisely cut by our Berkshire lapidary.
Tanzanite
Poised between lush blue, vibrant violet, and rich purple, exotic tanzanite is found in only one place on earth, near majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.
We have an extensive collection of loose tanzanite gemstones, precisely cut by a local Berkshire lapidary. The selection includes gems of all sizes and shapes. Come to our gallery or shop online for tanzanite.
Tanzanite and Zircon are December’s Birthstones
December has two birthstones, Tanzanite and Zircon. First, let’s delve briefly into Tanzanite’s background.
Tiffany & Co. introduced Tanzanite to the market in 1968 naming it after Tanzania, the country in which it was discovered. Tiffany’s marketing department created the gemstone’s name after deciding that its scientific name, blue-violet zoisite, was too hard for consumers to remember.
Tanzanite is noted for its remarkably strong trichroism (a chemical structure causing a double refraction when white light passes through) that leads to it appearing alternatively blue, violet and burgundy. Blue will be more evident when the gemstone is viewed under fluorescent light; violet hues will be more evident when viewed under incandescent light.
Tanzanite’s hardness registers 6.5 on the Moh’s Scale. The gemstone is safest set in pendants and earrings. Expect the gemstone to show wear if you set it into a frequently worn ring.
Zircon, December’s second birthstone, is one of my favorites appearing frequently in my custom designs. Its numerous colors – reddish brown, yellow, green, blue, gray, peach, orange, red, pale brown and colorless – inspire my creativity. I equally appreciate the gemstone’s high refractive index making it similar to a diamond. Also, its strong luster and intense fire give it a flash comparable with a diamond.
Zircon’s hardness (7.5 on the Moh’s Scale) attests to its durability so it can be set into any piece of jewelry. It is mined in Tanzania and Cambodia.
Aside from loose Zircon and Tanzanite (both of which hold their value) our gallery and online store offer many finished pieces for purchase. The jewelry and gemstones are priced well for first time investors in fine jewlery.