Insights

Today, it is not only a December birthstone, but it is also the gem for the 24th wedding anniversary. Courtesy: Dr. Edward J. Gübelin Collection, The intense blue turquoise beads in this necklace came from Arizona’s Sleeping Beauty mine. Courtesy: EraGem.com, Emerging from the clouds is the domed summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Colorless zircon is known for its brilliance and flashes of multicolored light, called fire, which have resulted in centuries of confusion with diamond. All three of December’s birthstones are best known for their beautiful shades of blue. Photo: Robert Weldon/GIA. For more information about the history of birthstones, try The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Kunz, a fascinating compendium of all the powers that have been associated with gemstones through the ages. The Kingman mine in Arizona is a historically important source that is known for producing intense blue turquoise. Blue stones emerging from Tanzania were identified as the mineral zoisite in 1962. This turquoise birthstone also played an important role in the lives of Native Americans. Clean your zircon using a soft brush and mild soap in warm water. It’s safe to clean turquoise jewelry with warm, soapy water, but this December birthstone should never be cleaned with steam or ultrasonic cleaners. North of the mines tower the snow-covered slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Grass-covered hillsides, scrub brush, rocky soil and an occasional tree form the local landscape. Tanzanite may be a relative newcomer to the world of colored stones, but it was one of the most exciting gem discoveries of the 20th century. whole. Courtesy: Omi Privé. When worn together, the nine gems protect the wearer and bring wealth, wisdom and good health. With its vivid colors, high clarity and potential for large cut stones, tanzanite quickly became a sensation. The turquoise birthstone was thought to possess many beneficial powers, like guaranteeing health and good fortune. Whatever your color, style or budget preferences may be, we can help you pick the right December birthstone for you or a loved one. Anniversary stone: 11th anniversary (turquoise) Anniversary stone: 24th anniversary (tanzanite) Angel: Humiel. Mountains, jungles and restless streams make for a dramatic landscape. Bright blue turquoise is the most preferred color. It is a blue to blue green to yellowish green mineral that has been used as a gemstone for thousands of years. Fine specimens can be found in English estate jewelry from the 1880s. Australia’s Harts Range is known for producing zircon birthstones in yellow-brown, orangy brown, pink and purple. The birthstone for December is brilliant blue Turquoise and the December birthstone color is blue. Tanzanite is mined in its shadow. Turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon are the three birthstones for December. December birthstone turquoise, blue zircon, tanzanite. Although New Mexico was the largest producer of turquoise in the U.S. until the 1920s, today most of the U.S. production of this December birthstone comes from Arizona and Nevada. Turquoise is generally stable to light, but high heat can cause discoloration and breakage. A 46.28 ct medium green blue turquoise free-form cabochon Photo: Robert Weldon/GIA, This is the view on the way to the Nishapur district of Iran. Victorians had a fondness for blue zircon. The Apache thought turquoise could be found by following a rainbow to its end. Bracelet London Blue Topaz, Tiny Blue Gemstones, Sterling Silver or Gold Fill Dainty Delicate Bracelet… New York Office: 31 West 47th St., Suite 1103, New York, NY 10036, Hong Kong Office: Unit 1778, 17/F, Silvercord Tower 2, 30 Canton Road, TST, Hong Kong, China, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Kunz. Your turquoise birthstone can be damaged by acids, and it can be discolored by certain chemicals, cosmetics and even skin oils or perspiration. The nearby city of Alice Springs is known for its outback culture, aboriginal art and quirky sporting events like a regatta race held in a dry river bed. Because it is opaque, it is usually cut into cabochon shapes, often freeform to take full advantage of the rough, instead of being cut into calibrated shapes … It was eventually named tanzanite in honor of its country of origin. During the Middle Ages, this December birthstone was thought to lull one into a deep sleep and scare off evil spirits. Have fun looking for the perfect December birthstone that reflects your personality. Now closed to turquoise mining, Arizona’s Sleeping Beauty mine was a prolific producer for more than four decades. Turquoise is a semi-translucent to opaque gem that ranges from blue to green and often has veins of matrix (remnants of the rock in which it formed) running through it. AGS Laboratories, founded to support the AGS mission, is a nonprofit diamond grading laboratory with a mission of consumer protection. Go there and you’ll see open savannahs, dry stream beds and low-lying hills that meet the horizon. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are never recommended for tanzanite. Admired since ancient times, turquoise is known for its distinct color, which ranges from powdery blue to greenish robin’s egg blue. Hindu mystics maintained that seeing a turquoise after beholding the new moon ensured fantastic wealth. It is commonly heat treated to produce blue and colorless varieties, as well as orange, yellow and red. Today, China is the world’s largest producer of this December birthstone. These December birthstones are mined around the world and all have their own unique take on the color blue, allowing you to choose the birthstone that best fits your style. Courtesy: Somewhere In The Rainbow, This 5.59 carat (ct) oval tanzanite is surrounded by 28 tapered baguettes and 12 round brilliant cut diamonds. Comprehensive CAD/CAM For Jewelry Certificate. This December birthstone is often located near sapphire sources. In addition to Sri Lanka and Australia, countries where the two gems overlap include Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia. Inclusiveness is intrinsic to the very nature of ICA and we are accepting of all human beings and support all the diversity that makes this world and the colored gemstone industry rich and unique. Few people realize that zircon is a spectacular natural gemstone available in a variety of colors. In European tradition, the gift of a turquoise ring means “forget me not.” Turquoise is considered a national treasure in Tibet, where it is believed to grant health, good fortune and protection from evil. The American Gem Society (AGS) is a nonprofit trade association of fine jewelry professionals dedicated to setting, maintaining and promoting the highest standards of ethical conduct and professional behavior through education, accreditation, recertification They range from the first mind jewelry and oldest on earth to the most recently discovered one. If blue is what you’re looking for, all three December birthstones have their own unique take on this favorite hue. The Society is committed to providing educational products to inform and protect the consumer and to contributing to the betterment of the trade by creating industry standards to protect the jewelry-buying public and the fine jewelry industry as a When you are ready to shop for your December birthstone, be sure to take our Tanzanite Buying Guide, Turquoise Buying Guide, and Zircon Buying Guide with you when you go! In the Hindu religion, zircon alternates with hessonite garnet as one of the nine gems of the navaratna. The pharaohs and other rulers of ancient Egypt adorned themselves with it. The Pueblo maintained that turquoise got its color from the sky, while the Hopi thought the gem was produced by lizards scurrying over the earth. Named for its limited geographic origin in Tanzania, tanzanite has quickly risen to popularity since its relatively recent discovery. Adhering to the AGS Diamond Grading Standards, AGS Laboratories is dedicated to offering diamond grading reports Some turquoise is treated to improve its durability (it has a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6), appearance and polish. Zircon Hill is where this December birthstone is mined. Membership Management Software Powered by, The History of the Diamond as an Engagement Ring, Advanced Personal Property Appraisal Course, The Practical Guide to Jewelry Appraising, American Gem Society Titles & Designations, Find a Jeweler Gets a Renovation and Find a Supplier Get a New Name, AGS Laboratories Will Resume Grading Laboratory-Grown Diamonds, December Birthstones | Tanzanite, Zircon & Turquoise. In the major mechanized operations there, thousands of workers recover tanzanite from mines dug over a 100 meters (more than 300 feet) deep into the earth. By closing this banner or using this site you agree to our revised Privacy Notice, Terms of Service and Cookie Policy. Turquoise is also the gem of the 11th wedding anniversary. Turquoise has been mined in the Nishapur district of Iran for more than 1,000 years. These gemstones range from the oldest on Earth to one of the first mined and used in jewelry, to one of the most recently discovered. The prized even-colored, intense blue turquoise from this region is dubbed “robin’s egg blue,” “sky blue” and “Persian blue.” Trade professionals now use these terms to describe turquoise of this color – regardless of the source. DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES The winter blues have nothing on December’s birthstones: tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise. Also seen are cavities filled with a metal-loaded epoxy to imitate pyrite inclusions. This December birthstone has been cherished for millennia. Hindu month gem: Topaz. It’s one of few minerals to lend its name to anything that resembles its striking color. Tanzanite is the exquisite blue-purple variety of the mineral zoisite that is only found in one part of the world. Mines have evocative names like Dry Creek, Easter Blue, Emerald Valley and Fox. This December birthstone (6 to 7 on the Mohs scale of harness) is resistant to the effects of normal heat, light and common chemicals. While not recommended for daily wear in a ring, with a protective mounting and some care this December birthstone can be an attractive special-occasion jewel. 9/14/2020Find a Jeweler Gets a Renovation and Find a Supplier Get a New Name, 8/3/2020AGS Laboratories Will Resume Grading Laboratory-Grown Diamonds. Zircon ranges from 6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It can be attacked by hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids. Your tanzanite birthstone is best set in earrings or pendants. Sri Lanka's wealth of gems is legendary: Sapphire in various colors, ruby, alexandrite, spinel, tournamline, moonstone and quartz are some of the gem minerals unearthed there. Heat or solvents can damage the treated surfaces on some turquoise. In 1968, Tiffany launched a major advertising campaign to promote it.

Sei Mai Stata Sulla Luna Film Completo, Nicola King Artist, The Rocking Horse Winner Questions, Bad Timing Stories, Object Relations Theory Ppt,