Most months get one birthstone. December gets three: turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. That might sound confusing at first, but each stone earned its spot on the list at a different point in history, and together they cover almost every price point a person could want. Knowing why all three belong to December, and what actually separates them, makes picking the right piece a lot easier, whether it’s for a birthday, a gift, or just curiosity about the stone in a ring you already own.
What Is the December Birthstone?
December’s birthstones are turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. All three lean toward blue, but they didn’t join the birthstone list at the same time or for the same reason.
Turquoise has been December’s birthstone the longest, included when the modern U.S. birthstone list was formalized in 1912. Zircon became December’s alternate stone in 1952, replacing lapis lazuli, which had held that spot before. Tanzanite is the newest of the three by a wide margin. The American Gem Trade Association added it in 2002, and to date it remains the only gemstone ever added to the official birthstone list since 1912.
Having three options isn’t a mistake. It exists so December babies can choose a stone that fits their budget, whether that means an affordable turquoise pendant or a rarer tanzanite ring.
Turquoise: December’s Original Birthstone
Turquoise earned its place as December’s birthstone through sheer staying power. People have worn it for thousands of years, and it was already a deeply established gemstone long before the 1912 birthstone list made it official.
As a birthstone specifically, turquoise is usually linked to protection and good fortune, ideas that trace back to how ancient Egyptians and later Native American cultures used the stone as a personal talisman rather than pure decoration. That protective association is a big part of why turquoise still gets chosen as a meaningful gift for December birthdays, not just because it’s blue.
Turquoise is also the most affordable of December’s three birthstones for most buyers, which makes it a practical entry point for anyone wanting birthstone jewelry without a high price tag.
Zircon: December’s Alternate Birthstone
Zircon became December’s alternate birthstone in 1952, added specifically to give buyers a lower-cost option alongside turquoise. It’s often mistaken for cubic zirconia because of the similar name, but the two have no real connection. Zircon is a natural gemstone that people have worn for centuries, while cubic zirconia is a lab-made diamond substitute that didn’t exist until the 1970s.
As a birthstone, zircon doesn’t carry the same ancient symbolic weight as turquoise, since it’s a comparatively recent addition to December’s lineup. It’s generally chosen by people who want something with strong sparkle and a lower price than tanzanite, without the softness concerns that come with turquoise.
Tanzanite: December’s Newest Birthstone
Tanzanite is the only stone ever added to the official birthstone list since it was created in 1912, joining turquoise and zircon in 2002. That alone makes it different from every other birthstone on the calendar: every other stone on the list has been there for over a century, and tanzanite has been there for a little over twenty years.
It was added specifically because of its rarity and quick rise in popularity after Tiffany & Co. introduced it to the American market in 1968. Tanzanite comes from a single deposit in Tanzania, and no other source has ever been found anywhere in the world, which gives it a scarcity story that none of December’s other birthstones can match. That rarity is also why it tends to cost more than turquoise or zircon.
Turquoise vs Zircon vs Tanzanite
| Stone | Added as Birthstone | Typical Cost | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turquoise | 1912 | Most affordable | Ancient history, protective symbolism |
| Zircon | 1952 (alternate) | Mid-range | Strong sparkle, often confused with cubic zirconia |
| Tanzanite | 2002 | Most expensive | Single-source rarity, newest addition to the list |
What Do December’s Birthstones Symbolize?
All three stones share a loose theme of calm, clarity, and protection, though each one picked up its meaning at a different point in history. Turquoise has long been treated as a protective stone, worn by Egyptian pharaohs and used as an amulet by Native American tribes to guard against harm. Tanzanite is often linked to transformation and spiritual insight, an association that grew alongside its sudden appearance in the jewelry world in the late 1960s. Zircon has been tied to mental clarity and renewal, a meaning that comes more from its brilliant sparkle than from any long-standing tradition.
None of these meanings are scientifically provable, and different sources describe them slightly differently. What’s consistent is that people have valued all three as personal, symbolic birthstones, not just as decoration.
Which December Birthstone Should You Choose?
The right choice usually comes down to budget and how much history or rarity matters to the person wearing it. Someone who wants a birthstone with thousands of years of tradition behind it will likely lean toward turquoise. Someone who wants noticeable sparkle at a reasonable price tends to land on zircon. Someone drawn to the idea of owning something that can only ever come from one place on Earth usually chooses tanzanite, even at a higher cost.
There’s no wrong answer among the three, since all are equally official December birthstones. The choice is really about which story the wearer wants their birthstone to tell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is turquoise, tanzanite, or zircon the “real” December birthstone?
All three are official December birthstones with no single one ranked above the others. Turquoise has been on the list the longest, tanzanite is the most recently added, and zircon falls in between, so the choice comes down to personal preference rather than tradition dictating one correct answer.
Why does December have three birthstones instead of one?
Extra birthstone options give buyers a range of price points within the same month. Turquoise has held that role since 1912, zircon was added in 1952 as a lower-cost alternate, and tanzanite joined in 2002 as a rarer, higher-priced option.
Is zircon the same as cubic zirconia?
No, they are completely different materials. Zircon is a natural gemstone that has been worn for centuries, while cubic zirconia is a lab-created diamond substitute invented in the 1970s; the similar names are simply a coincidence that causes confusion.
Why was tanzanite added to the birthstone list so recently?
Tanzanite wasn’t even discovered until 1967, so it couldn’t have been included when the original birthstone list was created in 1912. Its rarity and fast-growing popularity after its 1968 market debut led the American Gem Trade Association to add it in 2002, making it the only stone ever added to the list.
Can I wear more than one December birthstone at once?
Yes, there’s no rule against combining turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite in the same jewelry collection or even the same piece. Some December-born buyers choose one stone for everyday wear and a different one for special occasions, since each one fits a different budget and look.
Conclusion
December’s three birthstones didn’t all arrive on the calendar the same way. Turquoise earned its place through more than a century of history, zircon was added in 1952 to give buyers a more affordable option, and tanzanite became the only new addition to the entire birthstone list when it joined in 2002. None of them is a backup choice for the others; each one represents a different chapter in how December’s birthstone list came to be, which is exactly why December-born people get to choose the stone whose story fits them best.
