December Birthstone: Turquoise (Color & Meaning)

The December birthstone: Turquoise

December has several blue birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite, zircon and blue topaz. Turquoise is the ancient favorite, worn for protection across many cultures, while tanzanite is a modern discovery found only near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

As a color, Turquoise sits in the sky blue to teal range, which is part of why it feels so tied to the season. If you were born in December, this is the gem most jewelers and birthday charts will point you to, and the one that appears on a modern birthstone card.

What the December birthstone means

In the older lore, Turquoise was linked to protection, friendship and good fortune. That symbolism is a tradition rather than a fact, but it is the reason the stone has stayed meaningful as a birthday gift for so long. Different cultures added their own associations, yet the core meaning has held remarkably steady.

Alternative December birthstones

December is not limited to a single stone. Alongside Turquoise, the month is also linked to Tanzanite and Zircon and Blue Topaz. Any of these is a valid December birthstone, so you can pick the color and meaning that suits you best.

Every recognized December birthstone, each with its own color.
Stone	Color	Role
Turquoise	Sky blue to teal	modern
Tanzanite	Violet blue	alternative
Zircon	Blue to colorless	alternative
Blue Topaz	Pale to sky blue	alternative

December birth flower and zodiac signs

A birthstone is only part of the picture. The December birth flower is the Narcissus, and anyone born this month falls under Sagittarius or Capricorn. For everything about the month in one place, see the December overview.

Frequently asked questions

What is the December birthstone?

The December birthstone is Turquoise, a sky blue to teal gem. It also has Tanzanite and Zircon and Blue Topaz as recognized alternatives.

What color is the December birthstone?

Turquoise is sky blue to teal.

What does the December birthstone mean?

Turquoise traditionally stands for protection, friendship and good fortune.

What zodiac signs fall in December?

Sagittarius and Capricorn both fall within December.

Why does December have 4 birthstones?

December carries Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon and Blue Topaz. Months end up with several stones through availability and later discoveries rather than through a single tradition, and each one has its own color.

How hard is the December birthstone?

Turquoise measures 5 to 6 Mohs (turquoise) on the Mohs scale. That matters for everyday jewelry: a softer stone scratches more easily and is better suited to a pendant than to a ring worn daily.

December birthstone