![]() In 2001, zircon crystals, which were discovered on a sheep ranch in Western Australia, were dated at 4.4 billion years old. After all, zircon is not only beautiful, it holds secrets to the origins of life on Earth. This, however, does not afford this stunning gemstone the status it deserves. Older than the moonīecause of its fire and brilliance, zircon is sometimes used as an imitation diamond. While zircon comes in many colours, it is the blue stone that is associated with December. The oldest known mineral on Earth, this December birthstone was here more than four billion years ago and pre-dates the moon. The heart-shaped blue pendant worn by Kate Winslet in 1997 blockbuster Titanic was in fact a tanzanite. Many of us may be unaware that we have seen a perfect example of a tanzanite on the big screen. Its lush colour and brilliance make it a truly glamorous gemstone. The red carpet favouriteĭespite being rarer than diamond and only recently discovered, tanzanite has been spotted adorning many celebrities, including Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Penelope Cruz. Spotting the deep blue stone’s great potential, the iconic New York jeweller named it after the place of its discovery and launched it through a promotional campaign. Unlike turquoise, this precious stone was discovered relatively recently and was named by Tiffany & Co in the 1960s. It is prized for its ‘trichrosim’, which means its colour switches between blue to violet when it is turned in the light. One of the Earth’s rarest gemstones, tanzanite has only ever been found in a small area at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. In Bulgari’s luxury Diva’s Dream watch, turquoise provides a dramatic frame for a glittering display of diamonds and tanzanites. Frost of London’s Marli New York collection is a true celebration of turquoise, with the striking stone set among diamonds on white, yellow or rose gold. While many pieces of turquoise jewellery are relatively low in value, growing numbers of high end jewellers are choosing to place this unusual stone centre stage in luxury pieces. Thanks to its accessible price tag and versatility, it is used across jewellery types and looks stunning set against any precious metal. Turquoise never goes out of style and remains popular today. The stone has also been found in beads from Iraq, which have been dated to 5,000BC. In Ancient Egypt, pharaohs were often decorated with turquoise jewellery before they were entombed. Navajo shepherds, for example, believed turquoise beads gave protection from storms, while the Apaches used turquoise in their weapons believing it would make them better warriors. Turquoise was significant in many indigenous American cultures. Many wearers are also attracted by its rich cultural history. What the stone lacks in sparkle, it makes up for with its intense colour, which is flecked with brown or blue veins. This is because the stone once travelled through Turkey on the trade route to Europe from Egypt. The name, which is now used to describe the stone’s colour, is derived from the French word for Turkish, which is turquois. This opaque blue-green stone has enduring appeal and has been mined for use in jewellery for millennia. ![]() Perhaps the most popular and well known of the three, turquoise was the original, traditional birthstone for December. ![]() If you were born in December, the month offers a truly sensational trio of birthstones. And the third a jewel that is found nowhere other than the foothills of Africa’s highest mountain. Another, a gemstone with a diverse cultural heritage. ![]() One is a mineral that holds the secret to the very origins of life. The three blue jewels may share a colour but each is distinct with a unique history. Tanzanite, zircon and turquoise are all known as December birthstones. As the year draws to a close, those celebrating a December birthday have the choice of three stunning – and very different – blue birthstones.
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