December birthstones have
cool  blue hues
by Bethany Waldrop Keiper

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If blue hues are your favorites, then December is the birthstone month for you. While the array of stones listed as this month's choices may seem confusing at first, you can choose your favorite, and then collect the rest as you go! While turquoise was named the modern or standard
December birthstone in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers, blue topaz and blue zircon are also considered celebratory stones for this month.

Turquoise was known as the sacred stone to Native North Americans and Tibetans. This stone's history is rich and varied, from the ancients' use of it in their ritual masks, healing ceremonies and ornaments to the wild popularity it gained in the United States during the 1970s. The colors of turquoise are also varied, with many of the less-desirable
greenish-tinted stones dyed or given resin coatings to reach a more money-fetching shade of sky or robin's egg blue.

Although the name is French, and means stone of Turkey, the best quality stones are found in Iran. The American Southwest is another popular location for this finding this stone. The Iranian or "Persian Turquoise" does not have the signature black or brown veins usually found in turquoise from the U.S.

The Egyptians first found uses for this stone in 6000 BC, and turquoise is one of the stones found in the stunning mask of Tutankhamun. On the mystical side, the stones are thought to possess the abilities to increase the virtues of understanding, trust and wisdom. Native Americans placed turquoise carvings in the tombs of loved ones to bring good spirits close.

Another modern birthstone for this month is blue topaz. Topaz is the hardest known silicate mineral, and comes from the Sanskrit word "tapas," which means fire. The stone's watery hues seem at odds with its fiery name.

Even within this range of blue stones for this month, blue topaz has its own palette of blues, and jewelers and gemologists keep up with them with names as lovely as the stones themselves: sky blue topaz, Swiss blue topaz, and London blue topaz. Naturally, sky is the lightest, with
London being the darkest. Unnaturally, many topaz stones are heat-treated to bring out and intensify their coloring.

Those who choose blue topaz can breathe deeply, for the stone is believed to possess healing powers, and symbolizes faithfulness and love. This stone's history is not so rich, since the blue color is often brought about by heat treatments. This mineral can be found in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, Nigeria, and Brazil.

Zircon, the third of this blue trio, has a more recent claim to fame than the others. This gem suffered a blow to its reputation when cubic zirconia (the diamond copy) was introduced. The similarity of the names led many to believe that zircon itself was only a copy of a more traditional stone. Zircons are said to very closely resemble diamonds in fire and luster.

Zircon's mystical side is much more beautiful than its unjustly tarnished reputation. It has a place in Hindu mythology on the "Kalpa tree," a wishing tree that sounds much better than any wishing well or Aladdin's lamp. The tree's fruits were gems, and its leaves were made of
zircon.

This stone is easily one of the oldest minerals on Earth, and beyond. Australia yielded a piece of it 4.4 billion years old. This shining stone was also found in Chile at a meteorite site. This zircon was estimated to have formed roughly 4.6 billion years ago. Australia is one of the sources for zircon, albeit a minor one, with Sir Lanka and Burma being the best producers.

It should be no surprise that a stone of this great age was known to many ancient peoples. The origin for the name zircon is uncertain, for two options make sense, and neither has to do with the blue hue of the stone. Zircon comes in many sparkling shades, including dark red (which
is thought to be the origin of the name from the Arabic word "zarqun"); green; colorless; orange; brown; yellow( which is thought to be the origin for the name from the Persian word "zargun,"),  and in very rare instances a bright blue.

Resources

December Birthstone Zircon
Deember Zircon Gem stones Article in Suite 101.com

December birthstone - Zircon
http://www.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/zircon/birthdec.htm

December stones
http://www.artisan-jewelry-online.com/decemberbirthstone.html

December-blues Chinese lampwork beads pictured are courtesy of and
available from the Bead Peddler.
http://www.beadpeddler.com

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