Birthstone · December
December Birthstones
The month of blue. December's birthstones are a small family of cool-toned stones — turquoise first — long carried for protection and good fortune.
December is the month of blue. Its modern birthstones are a small family of cool-toned stones — turquoise as the primary, then tanzanite, zircon, and blue topaz — chosen to hold the colors of winter skies and ice. Turquoise leads: a copper-aluminium phosphate that people have mined and treasured for more than five thousand years, from the Sinai to the American Southwest. Tanzanite is the newcomer, a velvety blue-violet zoisite found in only one place on earth and added to the list in 2002.
Across that long history turquoise has been carried for one quality above all others — protection. Aztec, Egyptian, and Native American cultures each set it as a guardian stone, and crystal tradition has long tied it to good fortune and clear-headed wisdom. We've spent 14 years among stones like these. Below you'll find December's modern birthstones, the older traditions behind them, and the pieces we'd actually reach for — including the honest truth about a stone that is one of the most imitated on the market.
- Modern birthstone
- Turquoise
- also Tanzanite, Zircon, Blue Topaz
- Color
- Sky-blue to violet-blue
- Tradition
- Long carried for protection, wisdom, and good fortune.
The stones we'd reach for
December crystals
Natural, quality-verified stones tied to the month — read what each is known for, then explore its full profile.
Turquoise
Opaque robin's-egg blue, a copper-aluminium phosphate (Mohs 5–6) and one of the oldest stones humans have carried for protection. It's also one of the most imitated: much sold as turquoise is stabilised, reconstituted, or dyed howlite. We label every piece for what it is and note any treatment on its product page.
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Amazonite
Soft blue-green microcline feldspar (Mohs 6–6.5). The affordable crystal most people reach for when they want turquoise's calm, boho color in a natural, untreated stone.
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Blue Chalcedony
Gentle, milky sky-blue cryptocrystalline quartz (Mohs 6.5–7). Long associated in tradition with calm speech and a settled mind — a quieter cousin to December's brighter blues.
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Blue Lace Agate
Pale banded blue agate, a natural quartz (Mohs 7). Traditionally turned to for peace and clear, unhurried communication — and a hard-wearing everyday stone.
Explore Blue Lace Agate →
Across tradition
The older birthstone systems
Before the modern list, other traditions paired the month with their own stone.
December's zodiac signs
Good to know
Questions about the December birthstone
What is the December birthstone?
The modern December birthstone is turquoise. December is a multi-stone month: tanzanite, zircon, and blue topaz are all official modern alternatives, so any of them is a correct choice.
What color is the December birthstone?
Turquoise is a sky-blue to blue-green — the classic robin's-egg color. The alternatives run cooler and deeper: tanzanite is blue-violet, while zircon and blue topaz are a clear, electric light blue.
What is the traditional December birthstone?
Older systems differ. The traditional Western list paired turquoise with zircon and lapis lazuli; the mystical (Tibetan) list assigns protective onyx; and the Ayurvedic list gives December ruby. We lead with turquoise because it's the modern standard, and note the older traditions for those who want the fuller story.
Is December turquoise always natural?
No — and this is worth knowing. A large share of the turquoise on the market is stabilised, reconstituted, or imitated with dyed howlite or magnesite. We tell you exactly what each stone is, and any treatment is disclosed on its product page. If you want a guaranteed-natural blue, amazonite and blue chalcedony are honest, untreated alternatives.
Is my birthstone the same as my zodiac stone?
Not always. A birthstone follows the calendar month; a zodiac stone follows your sun sign, and December spans two signs — Sagittarius and Capricorn. Follow whichever thread you prefer; both are linked above.
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About Bliss · The Lineage
The crystal knowledge we share is grounded in years of hands-on work at Bliss Crystals — sourcing the stones, learning what each has meant across tradition, and passing it on with care.
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