birthstones · December
Turquoise
December's oldest amulet · Also for this month: tanzanite & zircon
December closes the year with humanity's senior protective stone: turquoise, sky-and-water blue, mined and worn for eight thousand years. Its file: protection on journeys, friendship's token, good fortune under grey skies.
Story & folklore
Egyptian, Persian, Chinese and Native American traditions independently crowned it protective — horse-and-rider amulets, tomb inlays, sacred sky-stone. Persian lore promised that turquoise seen after moonlight meant luck coming; the name itself just means 'Turkish' — the trade route, not the source.
The honest paragraph
Four unrelated civilisations reaching one verdict tells you something true — about humans: sky-coloured stones read as heaven's fragments everywhere there's sky. Respect note included free: in Native American traditions, especially in the Southwest, turquoise remains sacred and living — buy from native artists, wear with knowledge. Also: much cheap 'turquoise' is dyed howlite; ask.
The cat guards the December doorway, ancient and blue-eyed: "Protection. The oldest profession. Mine."
Birthstone meanings are tradition and story, told with affection — a lovely lens for a gift or a self-portrait, never a verdict or a promise.
Turquoise history: Sinai, Nishapur and the American Southwest
Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium. Copper gives the blue, and iron pushes it toward green. Ancient Egyptians mined it in the Sinai Peninsula, and the famous burial mask of Tutankhamun is inlaid with it. For centuries the most admired stones came from the mines near Nishapur in Iran, whose even “robin’s egg” blue became the standard still called “Persian blue”. The Persian name firuze is often translated as “victorious”. In the American Southwest, turquoise has been mined and worked for over a thousand years, and mines such as Sleeping Beauty in Arizona (closed to turquoise mining in 2012) became legendary among collectors. China is a major modern producer.
Turquoise colours and matrix
- Even sky blue (“Persian”): the classic, most valued when saturated and without matrix.
- Green-blue to green: more iron, typical of some American and Chinese mines. It’s beautiful and often less expensive.
- Spiderweb matrix: a fine network of dark host rock through the blue. In high-grade American stones it’s highly prized.
- Pale, chalky blue: soft, porous material, usually stabilised before use.
Turquoise can slowly shift toward green over years of wear as it absorbs skin oils. Many owners consider this part of the stone’s character.
How to choose real turquoise and spot imitations
- Stabilised turquoise, porous stone impregnated with resin, makes up most of the market. It’s durable and acceptable if disclosed. Untreated natural turquoise costs more.
- Reconstituted turquoise is powder mixed with resin and pressed into blocks. It’s cheap and should be sold as such.
- Dyed howlite or magnesite, as the page above warns, is the most common imitation. Look for colour pooled in cracks, a white core at chipped edges or drill holes, and suspiciously uniform “matrix” lines.
- Plastic and glass feel light and warm, and look too perfect.
- At a fair price from a knowledgeable seller, ask three questions: natural or stabilised? Which mine? Can you put that on the receipt?
Turquoise care, gifts and symbolism
Turquoise is only about 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale and porous, so it absorbs oils, perfume, cosmetics and detergents that can discolour it. Put it on last and take it off first. Wipe it with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth, and never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, chemicals or long soaking. Avoid strong heat and long hours in direct sun.
Gift ideas include a silver pendant or ring for a December birthday, a beaded bracelet for everyday wear or a traditional piece bought directly from a Native American or Central Asian artisan. In the symbolic tradition turquoise stands for protection on the road, friendship and good fortune. December’s flower is the indoor paperwhite narcissus. December’s alternatives, tanzanite and zircon, sit in the same cool blue family. For a blue crystal companion, see lapis lazuli.