Ok, we see you, Sagittarius and Capricorn babies. With three beautiful blue December birthstones to choose from, you have the pick of sky-coloured jewels to adorn yourself with. One of the very oldest gemstones used in jewellery, turquoise remains a popular choice, and it’s not hard to see why.
The ‘robin’s egg’ blue mineral has been cherished for millennia, and is typically found in hot, dry climates (like Northwestern China, Egypt, Iran, and the American Southwest). Its name is thought to have come from the Old French word ‘turquois’, meaning Turkish, since Turkish traders were the first to bring Persian (Iranian) turquoise into Europe.
The Egyptians called the stone ‘mefkat‘ (meaning ‘joy’) and carved scarabs and other sacred symbols into it, then set it into precious gold amulets, rings and even royal burial masks. Meanwhile, the Chinese have used turquoise to craft exquisite beads, vases, ornaments and incense burners for over 3,000 years. In ancient Persia , it was ‘pērōzah, which means ‘victory’, and it was used to embellish instruments of war, such as daggers, or worn on necklaces to bless their owners with good fortune. To the Navajo People of America, it is ‘Doo tl’ izh ii’ – a holy stone since time immemorial, used to warn off evil, promote health, foster kinship, seek out groundwater or to pray to the gods of wind and rain. And the Aztec kings revered turquoise for its protective powers, and covered their halls, masks and shields with the heavenly gemstone.
Now, with increasingly fewer gem-quality mines in operation, the mineral has become progressively rarer and more expensive, which may explain its presence in a host of new high jewellery collections by the likes of Chaumet, Harry Winston and Tasaki, who previously festooned their jewellery with ‘traditional’ gems such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires.
Tempted to try out this lustrous stone for yourself (or another loved one with a December birthday)? Check out our edit of the prettiest turquoise pieces below.
Like this? Discover the best January birthstone jewellery, too.
