Jewelry IdentifierBirthstone
December Birthstone
December has several blue birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite, and blue zircon (plus blue topaz).
Turquoise
Mohs 5–6Opaque robin's-egg blue, often with a matrix; porous and soft.
Tanzanite
Mohs 6.5–7Violet-blue zoisite, found only in Tanzania.
Blue zircon
Mohs 6.5–7.5Brilliant natural blue stone — not to be confused with synthetic cubic zirconia.
- Modern birthstone
- Turquoise, Tanzanite, Blue zircon
- Traditional / alternates
- Blue topaz, Lapis lazuli
- Color
- Blue
Born in December? You have a choice of blue birthstones: turquoise, the ancient opaque blue stone; tanzanite, a violet-blue gem found only in Tanzania; and blue zircon, a brilliant natural stone (completely different from lab-made cubic zirconia). Blue topaz is a common modern alternative.
What the December birthstone means
December's blue stones symbolize luck, success, and protection.
Is your December birthstone real?
Birthstones are among the most-imitated gems — turquoise especially is often simulated by glass or synthetics. The fastest way to check what you actually have is to photograph the stone and run it through the free Gemstone Identifier, then confirm whether it's natural with the Is It Real? tool. For what a piece is worth, get a free jewelry appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
Birthstones by month
Not sure if your turquoise is real?
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