Introduction
December month has turquoise as its birthstone – the stone with the breathtaking beauty of the sky and the sea. Are you wondering where December got its name from? It gets its name from the Latin word “Decem”, meaning “ten” because back in the day, it used to be the tenth month. Some of the modern festivals celebrated in the month of December include Christmas, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve. The month of December symbolizes change, warm reunions during chilly days, and camaraderie. Today, we shall discuss the symbolisms, properties, history, and much more about the December birthstone, turquoise.
Significance of December Birthstones
There are mainly two birthstones for December: turquoise and zircon. If you look at the earliest birthstone list, which was inspired by the Biblical gemstone lists, ruby was mentioned as the birthstone of December. In 1870, Tiffany & Co. published the “Gregorian Birthstone Poems” pamphlet which listed Turquoise as the birthstone for December. Then, in 1912, the National Association of Jewelers, which is now known as Jewelers of America, designated Turquoise as the primary December birthstone and lapis lazuli as the alternative December birthstone. In 1951, the Jewelry Industry Council of America added zircon to the 1912 list, which had turquoise and lapis as December birthstones. Today, Turquoise is considered to be the primary December birthstone, along with Zircon.
Revered Status of Turquoise in Ancient Civilizations
Turquoise is considered to be one of the earliest gems used by mankind. You can imagine this by the fact that a 5500 BC Egyptian turquoise bracelet is considered to be the oldest jewelry among the ones found to date. Ancient Egyptians mined turquoise and called it by the name “mefkat” which roughly translates to “joy” – since at least 3000 BC. Ancient Egyptians wore turquoise because they believed that it would provide them protection, as well as be a status symbol. They associated turquoise with the sky and the Goddess of Motherhood, Hathor.
Ancient Persians called turquoise “pērōzah” which meant “victory”. They would set turquoise in turbans, mosques, and weapons. This Persian turquoise was purer, which is why it was believed to be heavenly. The ancient Romans and Greeks called turquoise Callais and made beads, rings, and necklaces out of turquoise. Even the Aztecs saw turquoise as something sacred, which was passed down from their deity Quetzalcoatl. They believed it embodied fire, which is perhaps why they buried their rulers with turquoise in their mouths.
About Turquoise: The December Birthstone
As a stone celebrated for its soothing energy and oceanic beauty, turquoise is a blue and green phosphate mineral, hydrated copper aluminum phosphate to be specific. It is porous, and it ranks between 5 and 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Almost all varieties of turquoise are microcrystalline, like chalcedony. The December birthstone, Turquoise is formed as a secondary mineral when water rich with copper alters aluminum and phosphorous-bearing minerals. You can often find turquoise mixed with copper minerals such as chrysocolla, azurite, malachite, and dioptase.
Turquoise suits very well to those who are born under the zodiac sign of Sagittarius and Capricorn. As an ambitious and enthusiastic Sagittarius, turquoise will aid you in achieving prosperity, whereas for strong yet stubborn Capricorns, turquoise helps you foster more open communication. The color of turquoise ranges from dark blue to blue-green to yellow. Blues are formed because of copper in turquoise, the greens come from chromium or vanadium impurities, and yellow comes from iron impurities. On a rare note, if you find your turquoise to have a purple undertone, know that it's because of strontium impurities.
Meaning of The December Birthstone
The name “turquoise” stems from the French word “turquois” which means “Turkish”. This was so because it was the Turkish travelers who first introduced turquoise to medieval Europe as a gemstone from Persian mines. Many consider turquoise to be a lucky stone, and a symbol of good luck, and people believe that turquoise can bring its wearer success and fortune. So, the next time you are pursuing a promotion at work, you can wear some turquoise jewelry, such as a turquoise ring, turquoise bracelet, turquoise pendant, or turquoise earrings – so as it provides you with an extra shot of luck.
Not only does turquoise represent good luck, but it also represents serenity and hope. Planning to decorate your home or office with this sky-blue stone for reaping some well-deserved peace and happiness is not a bad idea. You can also meditate with your turquoise stone, in a crystal grid, or just by the turquoise itself. You would be astounded to know that turquoise offers protection against danger. According to popular belief, if your turquoise stone breaks, it is giving you a warning of an impending danger. If it turns pale in color, it indicates that you may fall ill sooner or later. And, a total loss of color of the turquoise jewelry indicates the owner’s death. But of course, these are just legends and lore.
Healing Properties of Turquoise Jewelry
Since considered to be a powerful healing stone, the turquoise jewelry can strengthen the wearer’s immune system, regenerate damaged tissues, and alleviate body pain. Along with this, turquoise jewelry is also said to help in better absorption of nutrients and is said to heal the eyes and sore throat. These are just the physical healing benefits of turquoise. It comes with many emotional healing properties as well. Turquoise helps its wearer combat depression and fatigue. It is said to prevent panic attacks. Lastly, turquoise jewelry is believed to promote inner harmony.
Custom December Birthstone Jewelry for Jewelry Retailers
It is common for jewelry retailers with a traditional brick-and-mortar store, or perhaps, a Shopify store to search for custom December birthstone jewelry. If you are one of the retailers looking for any custom birthstone jewelry (be it traditional birthstone jewelry or modern birthstone jewelry) or any kind of custom jewelry, and you want to purchase this jewelry at wholesale rates, then check out the official website of Rananjay Exports. Who are Rananjay Exports? They are one of the most renowned wholesale gemstone jewelry manufacturers and suppliers from India, dealing in gemstone jewelry in 250+ different gemstones (all of which are genuine and natural). Apart from wholesale gemstone jewelry, they also sell 925 sterling silver jewelry at wholesale prices.
Whenever you order custom jewelry from Rananjay Exports, such as custom birthstone jewelry, you get to choose even the most minute details of your jewelry. From the intricacies in the design of the jewelry to the base metal and vermeil of the jewelry, the freedom is yours – you can ask Rananjay anything, and they will get it done for you. Apart from custom jewelry, they also deal in designer jewelry, handmade jewelry, and casting jewelry.
Conclusion
We know that it’s a drag to be born around the holiday season, but having beautiful birthstones such as Turquoise and Zircon makes the dark days brighter. Now that you have learned everything about the December birthstone, Turquoise, you must be wondering what you should do next. Well, we suggest that you browse our other blogs and gain valuable insights from them. Otherwise, you can browse Rananjay Exports and order the jewelry you need to take your retail store to new heights. Rest assured; you will find all types of turquoise jewelry at Rananjay Exports.
