Despite the clouds this month, it’s blue skies for December babies. Or, to be more exact, blue stones… beautiful blue stones. Modern birthstones for those born in the month of December include blue topaz, tanzanite and turquoise. There is a shade of blue for every taste!

In 2002, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced that tanzanite was an official birthstone for the month of December.

Tanzanite is a highly prized stone that was discovered in 1967. It was found in Tanzania, which is the only place on earth where it has been located. Because of its elegance and exclusivity, tanzanite has become very popular in a relatively short time. As it is found in a single area, tanzanite is considered to be extremely rare and the supply is expected to dwindle, which has caused it to be highly prized by collectors and investors.

Tanzanite is a blue form of the mineral zoisite. It is known for its extraordinary color, which can run from a deep marine blue with purple tints to a light blue-violet shade. It is a stone that appears to change color, depending on the angle from which it is viewed. The Gemological Institute of America rates tanzanite as a Type 1 gem, which means that is graded flawless if no inclusions are visible to the naked eye with 20×20 vision.

As a gemstone, turquoise in one of the oldest and most favored. Historically, it was mined by many ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Mayans and Incas. Southwest Indians used it as currency. Folklore has held that turquoise would protect people from poisonous snakebites. It was also believed that the stone could help cure sight disorders, including blindness.

Colors of turquoise encompass shades of sky blue, which is the most prized color, through turquoise to a bright green. The green shade of turquoise is created by presence of iron in the stone, while the blue tones are derived from the presence of copper. The black lines that are often seen in turquoise are created by magnesium oxides. Turquoise in most often cut and polished in cabochon form, or as beads and nuggets. The finest turquoise is considered to be from Iran, but the largest supply of the stone comes from the United States. Some stones from the United States Southwest are considered to be equal in quality to those found in Iran.

For those who prefer faceted stones, blue topaz is an exquisite option. Blue is the most popular color of topaz, ranging in a wide array of tones from dark blue to a very pale blue. The most commonly marketed colors of blue topaz are Sky Blue, Swiss Blue and London Blue. Sky Blue topaz is a medium-hued blue, the color of the sky on a sunny day. Swiss Blue topaz is a deeper, brighter blue color, sometimes called electric blue. London Blue topaz is a deep blue, almost the color of a blue sapphire. London Blue is the most popular blue topaz, and the most prized.

Ancient folklore has generally considered topaz to be a source of wisdom, understanding and fulfillment. It is most often found in Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Australia, Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The finest blue topaz is cut to highlight its color, purity and translucency. Whether set in white or yellow gold, the blue topaz is a stunning birthstone choice.

Delamina women, especially those born in December, can celebrate this season with their choice of amazing blue stones.

Tags: AGTA, American Gem Trade Association, beads and nuggets, blue sapphire, blue stones, blue topaz, cabochon form, color of topaz, Delamina women, faceted stones, finest turquoise, Gemological Institute of America, gemstone, graded flawless, London blue topaz, mineral zoisite, modern birthstones, official birthstone, Sky Blue topaz, stunning birthstone choice, Swiss Blue topaz, tanzanite, turquoise, Type 1 gem, white or yellow gold

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm and is filed under Birthstones, Gemstones. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.