Turquoise & Tanzanite- The Birthstones of December

December birthdays have two birthstones, Tanzanite & Turquoise, which have one thing in common…they come in shades of blue. Turquoise also comes in a beautiful blue/green colour too.

Turquoise is thought to have the longest history as a gemstone used in jewellery. The pharaohs and other rulers of ancient Egypt adorned themselves with it. Chinese artisans carved it more than 3,000 years ago. Today's turquoise comes mainly from Iran, New Mexico and China.

Turquoise is believed to possess many beneficial powers, like bringing health and good fortune. From the 13th century on, it was believed that turquoise would protect the wearer from falling (especially off horses), and would break into several pieces at the approach of disaster. Hindu mystics maintained that seeing a turquoise after beholding the new moon ensured fantastic wealth.