December birthstone: Turquoise

Did you know?

• Turquoise is the modern December birthstone.
• Turquoise is one of the most valuable non-transparent minerals.
• Most turquoise is cryptocrystalline, meaning that the crystals can only be seen by a microscope.
• The finest turquoise comes from Iran.

• Turquoise is considered a sacred stone for the North American Indians as well as the Tibetans.
• Turquoise promotes mental and spiritual clarity and expansion and enhances wisdom, trust , kindness and understanding.
• The color varies from very green blue to light sky blue shades.
• The hardness of the stone ranges between 5 – 6.
• It is generally accepted that turquoise gets its name from “pierre turquoise” a French phrase meaning “Turkish stone.”
• Turquoise was mined by early Egyptians as early as 6000 BC.
• In ancient Persian, the sky-blue gemstones were originally worn around the neck or on the hand as protection to ward off unnatural death.

• Today the beautiful stone is considered a good luck “charm” for aviators, flight staff and other professionals who need to ward off accidents.
• Turquoise is considered to be a good luck charm, while opal, the other non-crystalline gems, is considered unlucky.

• The American Indians believed that the celestial blue of this stone was stolen from the heavens by storms, and that if one went to the end of the rainbow and searched the damp earth, he would find a turquoise.
• Napoleon made one turquoise crown for his wife Empress Marie-Luise named Marie-Luise Diadem. 950 diamonds were set in silver. They weigh 700 carats. 79 original emeralds were replaced by Persian turquoise cabochons.

Inspired by: Bernadine fine art jewelry, Turquoise is December’s Birthstone and Birthstones for December.

Learn more about turquoise in our post Turquoise jewelry.

Learn about the other birthstones of December in: A December birthstone: Tanzanite and December birthstone – Blue Zircon.

Tags: birthstone, birthstone properties, december birthstone, gemstones, turquoise, turquoise jewelry