December has three birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon, and many jewellers add blue topaz. ✨ Tradition says these blue-family stones bring protection, good fortune, calm and clear thinking, a lovely set of wishes for someone born at the start of summer. Our own December crystal necklace uses a fifth blue stone, deep sodalite. Which one is "right" depends on the list you follow, and the good news is that all of them count.
What is the December birthstone, and why do shops disagree? 🔮
Search "December birthstone" in New Zealand and you get mixed answers. One jeweller says blue topaz. Another leads with tanzanite. An American guide says turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. The lists really do differ.
The modern birthstone list was set by American jewellers in 1912, and stones have been added since. Tanzanite is the newest arrival. It was only found in the 1960s and joined December's list in 2002. The gem experts at GIA name turquoise, tanzanite and zircon as December's stones, and they also call blue topaz a December birthstone. Plenty of NZ jewellers sell blue topaz for December birthdays too.
Our December crystal necklace adds its own choice: sodalite, the deep denim-blue stone that crystal lovers link with calm and truth. If you want the full year at a glance, our birthstones by month guide covers every month. This page goes deep on December.
The December birthstones and what they mean 💎
Turquoise: the protector
Turquoise is the oldest December stone, and it has the biggest story. Egypt's pharaohs wore it. Chinese artisans carved it more than 3,000 years ago. It has been mined in Nishapur, in Iran, for over 1,000 years.
Turquoise has always been a stone of protection and good luck. From the 13th century, people believed it kept riders from falling off their horses. In Tibet it is a national treasure, worn for health, good fortune and protection from evil. In old European tradition, a turquoise ring said "forget me not". It is also said to bring peace to the person who wears it.
Turquoise is soft, about 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. Much of it is stabilised to make it tougher, and some is dyed. Natural turquoise jewellery is scarce in our shop right now. Our copper turquoise pendants are a lovely alternative. Each one is a manmade mosaic of crumbled natural turquoise set with copper minerals, sometimes called Mojave turquoise.
Tanzanite: the newcomer
Tanzanite is violet-blue, velvety and young. Prospectors found its main source in 1967, in the Merelani Hills of northern Tanzania. That small area is still the only place in the world where it is mined commercially. Tiffany & Co. named it after Tanzania and launched it to the world in 1968.
Its meaning is fresh too. Crystal lovers link tanzanite with transformation and spiritual growth, which makes it a beautiful stone for a milestone birthday. It sits at 6 to 7 on the hardness scale, so it is happiest in earrings or a pendant rather than an everyday ring.
Zircon: the dreamer 🌙
Zircon has a sparkle so bright it was once mistaken for diamond. In the Middle Ages, people believed it brought deep sleep and scared away evil spirits. In Hindu tradition it is one of the nine gems of the navaratna, worn together for protection and good fortune. The Victorians adored blue zircon.
One thing to know: zircon is a natural gem. It is not cubic zirconia, the man-made diamond look-alike. Blue zircon is commonly heat-treated to bring out its colour.
Blue topaz: the everyday sparkle
Blue topaz is the clear, sky-to-ocean blue you see in so many December gifts. Tradition links it with clarity, wisdom, loyalty and trust. It is also the hardest stone in the set, at 8 on the Mohs scale. That makes it the easy choice for a ring you wear every day.
Most blue topaz starts out colourless. It is treated with irradiation and heat to turn it blue, and that colour is permanent. Topaz is hard but can chip if it takes a sharp knock, so take your ring off for gardening or the gym.
Sodalite: the stone in our December crystal necklace
Sodalite is deep blue with white veins, like a stormy summer sky. It takes its name from the sodium in the rock where it forms. In crystal practice it is the stone of truth, calm and clear communication. The card that comes with our December necklace calls it soothing for the spirit and good for ideas, creative expression and endurance.
Sodalite is often mistaken for its cousin, lapis lazuli. Look for gold flecks. Lapis usually has sparkly pyrite in it, and sodalite does not. Our lapis lazuli guide has more on that royal blue stone.
Which December birthstone should you choose? 🎁
Every December stone carries a good wish, so choose by how it will be worn.
- For a ring you never take off: blue topaz. It is the hardest of the set, and our blue topaz rings come in sizes 5 to 10.
- For a pendant or earrings: any of them. Softer stones like turquoise, tanzanite and sodalite are safest away from the hands.
- For a turquoise lover: a copper turquoise pendant, worn as a statement.
- For a crystal lover or a first birthstone: sodalite, the calm, everyday choice.
A December birthday often lands right beside Christmas, so the gift has to work hard. A birthstone feels personal in a way a "Christmas present" does not. Many people buy one for the birthday and add a matching piece for Christmas.
December birthstone gifts in New Zealand, by budget
- Under NZ$25: our December birthstone pendant with sodalite in a silver-tone Tree of Life cage (NZ$22), a sodalite bead bracelet (about NZ$13) or a sodalite point pendant on a cord (about NZ$20).
- NZ$50 to NZ$85: a delicate blue topaz ring (NZ$50), the blue topaz pendant or teardrop ring (NZ$75), or an oval blue topaz ring with a split band (NZ$85).
- NZ$235 and up: a copper turquoise pendant for a bold, one-of-a-kind gift.
Buying a ring? Our ring size guide helps you get it right without spoiling the surprise. You can also visit us at Westfield Manukau to see the blues side by side, or order online for delivery across Aotearoa.
Real turquoise or dyed howlite? 🧿
Turquoise is porous, so it takes dye easily. That has made it one of the most copied stones in the world. The usual stand-in is howlite or magnesite, white stones that are dyed turquoise-blue. Both can even show dark veins like real turquoise.
Here is how to tell:
- Be wary of a very bright, very even blue at a very low price.
- On lightly dyed pieces, a tiny scratch on the back can show white stone underneath.
- A good shop names the stone honestly. Stabilised turquoise should be disclosed as stabilised.
We sell turquoise howlite and call it that. Our braided turquoise howlite necklace (NZ$18) is dyed howlite with turquoise colour, and in crystal practice howlite is a stone of patience and calm. It is a cheerful, honest pick for a teenager or a colour lover. Just do not buy it as turquoise.
Caring for December birthstones
Warm soapy water and a soft cloth suit all of these stones. Never use steam or ultrasonic cleaners on them.
- Turquoise: put it on last, after perfume, sunscreen and lotion. These can discolour it. Keep it away from heat.
- Tanzanite and zircon: take them off for gardening, sport and the dishes.
- Blue topaz: avoid sudden heat changes and hard knocks.
- Sodalite: it scratches easily, so store it on its own.
Store each piece apart from harder jewellery. A diamond or a topaz can scratch a softer stone in a shared tin.
A little December birthday ritual 🕯️
December brings the longest days of the year in Aotearoa, so let the light help. On the morning of the birthday, hold the stone in your palm for three slow breaths. Think of one wish for the year ahead: courage, calm or a little luck. Then put it on. If it is a gift, write that wish on the card. The stone becomes a small reminder every time it catches the summer light.
December birthstone questions
Which December birthstone is the official one?
All of them are official. The classic list gives turquoise, tanzanite and zircon, and blue topaz is a December birthstone too. Our December crystal necklace adds sodalite. Pick the one whose story and colour feel like the person, and the wish comes with it.
What colour is the December birthstone?
Blue. Turquoise is sky blue to green, tanzanite is violet-blue, zircon and blue topaz are bright clear blue, and sodalite is deep denim blue with white veins. It is a cool, calming colour for a summer birthday.
What does the December birthstone mean?
December's stones share a theme of protection, good fortune and clarity. Turquoise is the protector and luck-bringer, tanzanite is linked with transformation, zircon with sleep and warding off evil, blue topaz with clarity and loyalty, and sodalite with calm and truth.
Is zircon the same as cubic zirconia?
No. Zircon is a natural gem with centuries of lore behind it, and cubic zirconia is a man-made diamond look-alike. Blue zircon is the one that belongs to December, carrying its old promise of deep sleep and protection from evil spirits.
Is blue topaz a December or a November birthstone?
Both, in a way. Topaz in general belongs to November, and blue topaz is named a December birthstone. So if you love that clear sky-blue for a December birthday, it is a true December stone.
Before you go
December's stones are all shades of blue, and every one carries a wish: protection, luck, calm or clarity. 🔮 Choose the one that fits the person and the way they will wear it, and give it with a few words about the year you hope they have.
Sources
- GIA — December birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon, topaz, November birthstones (topaz treatment and care), zircon; and the International Gem Society on the history of birthstones.
- Geology.com — sodalite and turquoise and its look-alikes.
- NZ jewellers' December lists — Agape Jewellers and Michael Hill.