There are some gifts that just never go wrong. When shopping for a special someone, for a child or even for yourself, a birthstone is never a bad choice. Not only are they beautiful, but they have a deeper meaning. Wearing your appropriate birthstone will always give you prosperity and luck. Here is a description about December birthstones.
Zircon
The name zircon is derived from the Arabic words zar and gun, which mean gold and color, respectively. In the middle ages, many people believed zircons could relieve pain, protect travelers from injury and disease, induce hunger, promote restful sleep and ensure a warm welcome. Zircon birthstone is primarily mined in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Zirconium silicate is the chemical name of Zircon birthstone. Bear in mind that colorless zircons must not be muddled with the popular zirconium oxide or cubic zirconia, which is a laboratory grown material.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is the blue variety of the gemstone, zoisite. Tanzanite is named after the East African state of Tanzania, the only place in the world where it can be found. Henry Platt, Vice President of Tiffany & Co.7 felt blue zoisite sounded too close to the word, suicide, so he renamed the gemstone tanzanite. Dr. Paul Desautels, then Assistant Curator of the Smithsonian Institution, had never seen blue zoisite, aka tanzanite, before and quickly acquired it for the Smithsonian’s mineral collection. In October 2002, the American Gem Trade Association added tanzanite to its official birthstone list as a December birthstone.
Turquoise
The chemical name of Turquoise is hydrated copper aluminum phosphate. The word Turquoise is derived from the Old French word meaning Turkish stone. Turquoise was first bought to Europe from Turkey in the 16th century. The ancient Egyptians believed Turquoise had magical powers, and used Turquoise in jewelry, statues, ornaments and art. Today, the finest Turquoise comes from Iran, but high-grade Turquoise is also mined in New Mexico and Arizona. Native American shamans use Turquoise in rituals to promote mental and spiritual clarity.
Birthstones are known to be precious and semi-precious; these have been connected to birth dates for many years. They come in different textures, colors, sizes and shapes. Many different cultures normally assign a particular gemstone for the different month, which is normally based on every month assigned. Giving December birthstones to a loved one as a special gift simply means giving more than just a piece of jewels.
There are several things to keep in mind when shopping for December birthstone jewelry. The first one is buying at a reputable jewelry store that certifies their gemstones. Buying at a secondary dealer or a wholesaler has an impact on the item’s price. If you choose to shop in estate sales or flea markets, ensure that you know how to determine the naturally authentic gem from synthetic gem.
The gemstone market has a list of the top stones that are good to invest in. Always buy quality December Birthstones and other gemstones. Remember, you are making an investment. You need to build it with quality.