December Birthstone
Tanzanite
Alternates: Zircon, Turquoise
- Color
- Tanzanite: violet-blue. Zircon: colorless, blue, yellow, green and brown (blue zircon is usually heat-treated). Turquoise: opaque sky blue to green.
- Hardness (Mohs scale)
- Tanzanite 6 – 7; zircon 6 – 7.5; turquoise 5 – 6
Meaning & history
Tanzanite was discovered in Tanzania in the 1960s and is found commercially only there. Zircon is among the oldest minerals on Earth. Turquoise has been prized for thousands of years, from ancient Egypt to Persia and the American Southwest.
Folklore and symbolism are shared here as tradition, not as fact or as health claims.
Care tips
Clean tanzanite, zircon and turquoise with warm, soapy water and a soft brush, and avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Protect turquoise from chemicals, oils and cosmetics, and protect tanzanite and zircon from knocks.
Design ideas
- A tanzanite halo ring
- A blue zircon pendant
- A turquoise statement piece
- December stones in a mother's ring or push present
Imagining something with tanzanite or zircon or turquoise? Let's design it together.
Design with tanzanite