This post is all about the December birthstones, for the UK, Tanzanite and Turquoise.
Tanzanite
"Tanzanite is famed for its beautiful blue and purple tones. Because Tanzanite is a pleochroic gemstone, varying shades of pink, purple and even reds can appear from different angles.
Historically, this breath-taking stone is a relative newcomer to the precious gem world; the first recorded discovery was in 1967 in Tanzania, and the royal blue stone was officially named the ‘Tanzanite’ by Tiffany & Co., sparking a media frenzy. It is said that Tanzanian shepherds discovered the stone after a violent lightning storm, which shook the gems up to the surface of the earth. Today, Tanzanite is a one-location gemstone and can still only be mined in Tanzania.
In its country of origin, the Tanzanite is worn by new mothers to bestow positivity and health upon their new-born children, but in spiritual circles, its colour-changing properties are said to improve the flow of creativity and new ideas, as well as bringing energy and emotional wellbeing to the wearer. Some consider it to aid in fertility and detoxification.
In popular culture, perhaps the most famous of these December birthstones is that worn by Kate Winslet in the film Titanic, in which her gleaming blue necklace is called The Heart of the Ocean."
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Origin & Supply of Tanzanite
"A variety of the zoisite family, tanzanite originated from crystals which grew millions of years ago in deposits inside unusual elevations called inselbergs. This happened exclusively on a vast plain in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Optical Features
Because tanzanite is relatively soft and delicate (usually measures sits between 6.5 – 7 on the Mohs scale), it’s most often set in necklaces and earrings. Most raw tanzanite crystals are originally tarnished by a brownish-yellow component, but this disappears in a heating process. During this procedure, careful attention must be paid to the moment the colour turns blue, or it can destroy the gem’s brilliance."
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Turquoise
"The symbol of prosperity, good fortune and happiness. An ancient gem, turquoise as been highly prized for its intense colour for centuries and is adored today in December birthstone jewellery.
Turquoise: the gem
Turquoise is a mineral substance commonly found in microcrystalline form which ranges from sky blue and china blue to blue green and yellowish green. The colour is affected by impurities within the stone; blue hues are created by copper, while green comes from iron and chrome. The black, brown and ochre veins you frequently see in turquoise jewellery come from the mother stone, termed the matrix, penetrating the turquoise.
This gorgeous gem has a Mohs hardness of 5-6 and is found in Mexico, the USA, Iran, Chile, Australia and closer to home in Cornwall.
Turquoise: history and legendry background
Turquoise is thought to be one of the earliest stones ever mined and was first found in the Sinai Peninsula. The ancients named it “turquies” because of its trading route from Persia to Europe via Turkey which is known in France as Turquie.
Turquoise has been treasured for thousands of years and, indeed, grave furnishings inlaid with turquoise dating back to 3000BC have been discovered in Egypt. Believed to be a talisman, particularly for horsemen, it was thought that the turquoise prevented injury by absorbing the fall. Ancient Persians claimed the blue of the turquoise would ward off the ill-effects of the “evil eye” and, even today in Iran horses and mules sometimes have turquoise beads attached to their tails.
Turquoise was once thought to warn its wearer of danger or illness by changing colour. Of course, we know now that turquoise can change colour as a result of chemicals on the skin or light!
The Aztecs believed the stone to be holy, decorating their ceremonial masks with the gem, and creating highly ornate turquoise jewellery, while the Native Americans thought that this blue stone opened up a connection between the sea and sky. With its bright, happy colour, turquoise has been said to cure depression and instil confidence.
Known as the lover’s stone, it was also considered to guarantee the fidelity of those in love.
Turquoise in jewellery
Perhaps the oldest pieces of jewellery in existence are gold serpent bracelets set with turquoise. Found in 1900 in one of the tombs of the Pharoahs, they are thought to date back to 3,500 BC. The opening of the Suez Canal and the success of the film Cleopatra in the 19th century started a fashion for Egyptian-style jewellery featuring turquoise set in silver.
Despite being used in jewellery for thousands of years, turquoise has a timeless quality and turquoise jewellery is as fashionable today as it was all those years ago. The stone is usually cut and polished into cabochons which optimise the opacity of the gem."
See more from the original source, here...
There you have it, we hope you got some good information and if you're looking for a gift for a December born friend or relative (or even just to spoil yourself), pop down to our shop on Kirkcaldy High Street or give us a call and we'll be happy to help you out.
Hopefully see you soon!
The following article All about the December birthstones Tanzanite and Turquoise. is courtesy of www.akcampbell.co.uk/blog
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