Fighting the Winter Blues One December Birthstone at a Time

When it comes to birthstones, December offers three different ways to fight the winter blues: tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise. All three are known for their beautiful blue color. Tanzanite’s color has a beautiful richness and depth, turquoise is bright and cheerful, and zircon has an effervescent quality that is unmatched. Read on to learn more about these three beautiful stones and see some of our favorite December birthstone jewelry pieces currently in our vintage & estate collection!

Turquoise

1. 14K YELLOW GOLD TURQUOISE BRACELET
ESBR4006 || $675 

2. 14K YELLOW GOLD TURQUOISE STUDS
ESER6754 || $155

Turquoise was one of the first gemstones to be mined and used in jewelry. The opaque mineral, which gets its famous blue-green color from the copper in its chemical makeup, has been appreciated across the globe, from ancient Egypt and China to Mesoamerica and the American Southwest. The word turquoise dates back to the 17th century, and is derived from the French word for "Turkish" - turquois - as the mineral was first brought to Europe from Turkey. It has long been considered a stone that guarantees health, good fortune, and protection from evil. In America, Native Americans used turquoise in their jewelry and amulets. The Apaches believed that attaching turquoise to a bow or firearm increased a hunter’s or warrior’s accuracy. Here we have two lovely turquoise pieces. First is a turquoise bracelet set in 14k yellow gold. The second is a pair of adorable studs set with two cabochon turquoise stones.

Tanzanite

1. 14K YELLOW GOLD TANZANITE AND DIAMOND RING
ESRG7436 || $940

2. 14K YELLOW GOLD TANZANITE AND DIAMOND BRACELET
ESBR3975 || $3,550

3. 18K YELLOW GOLD TANZANITE AND DIAMOND RING
ESRG7454 || $1,295

Tanzanite is one of the most recently discovered gemstones. It was first unearthed in 1967 by a Masai tribesman in northern Tanzania, which is the only place in the world where it can be found. Tiffany & Co. named the blue-violet stone in honor of Tanzania. Tiffany’s recognized tanzanite’s potential as an international seller and made a deal to become its main distributor. They promoted it with a big publicity campaign in 1968, and the stone was an overnight success. Currently in our collection we have three tanzanite pieces. The first ring is set in 14k yellow gold with an oval cut tanzanite weighing .74 carats and further set with 24 full cut diamonds. Next is a 14k yellow gold tanzanite and diamond bracelet. The bracelet is prong set with 18 oval cut tanzanites and 36 full cut diamonds for ultimate glam! Lastly, our second featured ring is 18k yellow gold and prong set with an oval cut tanzanite weighing 1.37 carats flanked by two trillion cut diamonds.

Zircon

1. 1. 14K TWO-TONE GOLD BLUE ZIRCON AND DIAMOND PENDANT
      ESNK5382 || $340

Zircon is the oldest mineral on earth. Stones have been found in Australia that are approximately 4.4 billion years old. Zircon occurs in an array of colors including yellow, green, red, reddish brown, and, of course, blue hues. Colorless zircon, known for its brilliance and flashes of multicolored light, is close enough to the properties of diamond that for centuries the two have been confused. In the Middle Ages, Zircon was thought to induce sound sleep and drive away evil spirits as well as promote riches, honor, and wisdom. Blue zircon was a particular favorite in Victorian times. Gemologist George Kunz, Tiffany’s famed gem buyer, was a notable zircon advocate. He once proposed the name “starlite” to promote the stone's fiery nature, however the name never caught on. Here we have a 14k two-tone gold blue zircon and diamond pendant. The pendant is bezel set with a round cut blue zircon measuring 6.00 mm, and is flanked by two single cut diamonds.

Which December birthstone is your favorite? Browse our full vintage & estate online collection or visit us in stores to see more vintage and estate birthstone jewelry!