Key Takeaways
- December has three official birthstones, turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon, all connected by a shared blue and blue-green color palette.
- Each stone has distinct durability, rarity, and price characteristics: zircon is the hardest and most affordable, turquoise is a cultural classic, and tanzanite is the rarest and most valuable.
- Sterling silver is the ideal metal for all three of December's stones, offering elegant contrast and accessible pricing without compromising quality.
- Proper care varies by stone: avoid ultrasonic cleaners for tanzanite and turquoise, and always store pieces in separate pouches to prevent scratching.
- Birthstone jewelry makes a highly personal gift, especially when it is set in guaranteed .925 sterling silver.
December has three official birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. If you buy wholesale jewelry online for a retail store, understanding the distinctions between these three stones is essential to building inventory that sells. With 50+ years of direct relationships with master silversmiths in Thailand, Bali, and India, our wholesale jeweler in Milford has seen firsthand how well-sourced December birthstone jewelry performs across gift budgets and aesthetic preferences. All three stones share a connection to blue and blue-green hues, but each brings its own history, symbolism, and character. This guide covers colors, meanings, durability, setting recommendations, care requirements, and gifting tiers for all three stones.
What is the December Birthstone? Why Are There Three?
December has three official birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. The American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America recognize all three, and the International Gem Society covers the same stones in its guide to the month's birthstones. Here's a quick snapshot of each:
- Turquoise: An opaque blue-green gem with thousands of years of cultural history across Native American, Persian, and Egyptian traditions.
- Tanzanite: A relatively modern discovery, a violet-blue stone found only in Tanzania, prized for its rarity and deep color.
- Zircon: One of the oldest minerals on Earth, available in a range of colors including vivid blue. It is a natural gem, not cubic zirconia, which is lab-grown, so label each piece clearly for customers.
Turquoise has held its place for centuries, zircon has deep historical roots, and tanzanite was added in 2002 by the American Gem Trade Association. That addition reflected the gem's rapid rise in popularity after its discovery in 1967.
December Birthstone Colors: What Shades Define This Month?
December's birthstone color story is built around blue, but it's a wide and varied family of blues.
- Turquoise: Ranges from pale sky blue to rich blue-green, often with natural veining or matrix patterns that give each stone distinctive character.
- Tanzanite: Displays a violet-blue to deep blue tone that shifts depending on the light source, warmer and more violet under incandescent light, cooler and richer under daylight. Nearly all tanzanite is heat treated to bring out that blue-violet color, which is standard in the trade.
- Zircon: Most prized in a vivid, electric blue, though it also appears in colorless, golden, green, and red varieties. Most blue zircon is heat treated.
Tanzanite's pleochroism, the ability to show different colors when viewed from different angles, makes it one of the most visually dynamic gemstones available. The shared blue and blue-green palette across all three stones is cohesive enough that turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon pieces can be presented as a gift family or displayed as a complementary collection.
December Birthstone Meaning: The Symbolism Behind Turquoise, Tanzanite, and Zircon
Each of December's birthstones carries its own symbolic history. Together, they share themes of wisdom, clarity, and personal growth.
Turquoise
Turquoise is one of the world's oldest protective stones. Egyptian pharaohs wore it as a symbol of power and divine favor; Native American cultures prized it for its connection to sky and water; Persian traditions held that it brought good fortune. As a birthstone for December, turquoise stands for protection, wisdom, and prosperity.
Tanzanite
The tanzanite birthstone carries symbolism rooted in transformation. Discovered in 1967 near Mount Kilimanjaro, it went from an unknown mineral to one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world within a generation. Tanzanite is widely associated with new beginnings, spiritual awakening, and significant life transitions, a fitting stone for December, which sits at the threshold of a new year.
Zircon
In medieval Europe, zircon was believed to promote restful sleep and ward off evil spirits. Historically associated with honor and wisdom, zircon was a gemstone of high regard in the Middle Ages. Its history as a December gem makes it an underrated choice for thoughtful gift-giving.
Turquoise vs. Tanzanite vs. Zircon: How to Choose Your December Birthstone
Each stone suits a different buyer, so compare them on four points: durability, rarity, everyday wearability, and budget.
Durability
According to the American Gem Society, zircon rates 7.5 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, but it is brittle, and its facet edges can chip. Turquoise rates softer at 5–6, so it needs more careful handling and gentle storage. Tanzanite sits at about 6.5, better suited to earrings and pendants than everyday rings. For wholesale buyers, recommending bezel settings for tanzanite reduces edge damage and the complaints that follow.
Rarity and Value
Tanzanite is found in only one small mining area in northern Tanzania, about 7 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide, and is often described as rarer than diamonds. Fine-quality turquoise from Persian sources is also scarce, though turquoise sold as a December stone is more broadly available. Zircon is often priced below its visual appeal, making it an accessible option with genuine gemstone character.
Everyday Wearability
Zircon wears well day to day, though its edges can chip on impact, so protected settings help. Tanzanite is better suited to protected settings for rings, or to earrings and pendants. Turquoise in a well-designed sterling silver setting works beautifully for casual everyday wear.
Budget
Here is how the three stones sort by price:
- Accessible: Zircon and everyday-grade turquoise
- Mid-range: Turquoise (fine quality)
- Premium: Tanzanite
Quick recommendation: For brilliance at an accessible price, choose zircon. For cultural history and everyday ease, choose a turquoise piece. For rarity and a striking violet-blue gem, tanzanite is the premium choice. Stocking all three gives retail customers flexibility across budgets and aesthetics.
December Birthstone Jewelry: Settings, Metals, and Styles That Work Best
Each stone pairs best with a different setting:
- Tanzanite: Pairs beautifully with sterling silver or white gold, which complement its violet-blue tones. For ring designs, bezel or halo settings offer protection for the stone's edges. In earrings and pendants, tanzanite works in almost any setting style.
- Turquoise: Has an iconic relationship with sterling silver. The contrast between robin's-egg blue and a bright .925 finish is one of the most recognizable combinations in jewelry design, and sterling silver western turquoise jewelry shows it well. Bezel settings protect this softer stone better than prongs.
- Zircon: The third December stone, often faceted to maximize its natural brilliance and fire, which can rival diamonds. It works well as a centerpiece stone in rings, pendants, and earrings alike.
Sterling silver is an excellent metal choice for all three stones. It is accessible, genuinely elegant, and when produced to guaranteed .925 sterling silver purity standards, it holds up beautifully over time. Since 1974, Bill and Suan Blake have hand-selected sterling silver jewelry from silversmiths in Thailand, Bali, and India, and every piece carries a .925 purity guarantee.
How to Care for December Birthstone Jewelry
Turquoise care:
- Clean with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water
- Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam, and harsh chemicals, which can damage the surface and alter color
- Keep away from prolonged sun exposure, which can cause fading
- Store separately from harder stones that can scratch it
Tanzanite care:
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush; avoid ultrasonic cleaners, which can crack the stone
- Avoid steam cleaning and sudden temperature changes, and remove tanzanite before ring resizing or repairs, since torch heat can damage it
- Store in a padded pouch or soft-lined compartment
Zircon care:
- Harder than the other two, but brittle, so facet edges can chip with impact
- Clean with mild soap and warm water using a soft cloth
- Avoid abrasive materials
For all three stones, keep each piece in its own compartment or soft pouch, since stones stored together can scratch one another. Buyers who learn how to store sterling silver jewelry protect their investment and keep pieces looking retail-ready for years.
December Birthstone Gift Ideas for Every Budget
November and December are peak gifting months, so birthstone pieces fit holiday demand well. Here are three tiers to stock:
- Accessible tier: Turquoise or zircon set in sterling silver earrings or pendants offer genuine gemstone beauty at approachable price points. Turquoise carries cross-cultural gifting history across Native American, Persian, and Egyptian traditions. Zircon delivers strong sparkle at a modest price.
- Mid-range tier: A fine-quality turquoise birthstone ring in a sterling silver setting hits a sweet spot between quality and value. This tier rewards strong craftsmanship, so look for hand-set stones and hand-polished .925 sterling silver.
- Premium tier: A high-quality tanzanite solitaire or multi-stone pendant is a meaningful long-term birthstone gift. Because tanzanite comes from a single, finite geographic source, fine-quality stones are genuinely rare and carry collectible appeal.
Birthstone jewelry works as a gift because it connects directly to identity, so it feels personal without requiring the giver to know the recipient's exact taste.
Order wholesale sterling silver jewelry with free priority shipping in the US on orders $250+. Wholesale orders start at $100. Browse our wholesale sterling silver rings to find the right birthstone piece for your store and your customers.
FAQs About December Birthstones
What are the three official birthstones for December?
December has three official birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. Each carries its own color range, history, and meaning, but all three are associated with shades of blue, making December one of the most visually cohesive birthstone months.
What color is December's birthstone?
December's birthstones are primarily associated with blue and blue-green tones. Turquoise ranges from sky blue to blue-green, tanzanite displays a rich violet-blue, and zircon is most prized in vivid blue, though it also appears in colorless and golden varieties.
What does each December stone symbolize?
Turquoise represents protection, wisdom, and good fortune. Tanzanite is associated with transformation and new beginnings. Zircon has historically symbolized honor, wisdom, and restful sleep.
Is turquoise or tanzanite better for a birthstone ring?
Neither is ideal for daily wear, but turquoise in a protective bezel setting makes a practical everyday ring at a more accessible price. Tanzanite suits rings worn occasionally, in protective settings. Tanzanite's rarity makes it the premium option, while turquoise suits Southwestern style.
What is the rarest of the three stones?
Tanzanite is the rarest of the three. Found in only one small area of Tanzania, it is often described as rarer than diamonds. Fine-quality tanzanite with deep violet-blue color and high clarity commands significant value.
