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December birthstone jewelry gives you more choice than almost any other month, with blue topaz leading the lineup alongside turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. Each stone carries its own color story, hardness, and price range, so the right pick depends on the wearer’s lifestyle and taste. This guide walks through the four options, what makes each one worth wearing, and how to shop a December birthstone necklace gift with confidence.
What Is the December Birthstone?
The modern birthstone list recognizes four stones for December: blue topaz, turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. Blue topaz is the most widely stocked option in fine sterling silver jewelry because it balances a strong blue color with an accessible price. Turquoise and zircon are older traditional choices, while tanzanite was added in 2002 by the American Gem Trade Association.
If you are buying a gift and unsure which stone the recipient prefers, blue topaz is the safest starting point. It suits both cool and warm skin tones and pairs cleanly with silver. Ask about favorite colors first: sky blue points to topaz or zircon, deeper blue-violet to tanzanite, and greenish-blue to turquoise.
December Birthstone Blue Topaz
Blue topaz is an aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide with the chemical formula Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. It measures 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it durable enough for daily wear in rings, pendants, and earrings. Most gem-quality material on the market today comes from Brazil, with additional deposits in Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Texas.
The trade recognizes three main color grades: Sky Blue (pale), Swiss Blue (bright medium), and London Blue (deep steely blue with a slight gray undertone). Nearly all commercial blue topaz starts as colorless natural crystal and receives irradiation followed by heat treatment to produce the blue color. This treatment is standard, stable, and does not affect long-term wear.
Blue Topaz Sterling Silver Jewelry
Blue topaz pairs well with .925 sterling silver because the cool metal amplifies the stone’s blue saturation. Prong settings show off larger faceted stones, while bezel settings protect corners on rings and bracelets. For a December birthstone necklace gift, a Sky Blue or Swiss Blue pendant between 6mm and 10mm sits comfortably on most necklines without overwhelming the outfit.
Turquoise, Tanzanite, and Zircon
Turquoise is a hydrated copper aluminum phosphate rating 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Historic sources include the Nishapur district of Iran and the American Southwest, where mines like Sleeping Beauty in Arizona and Kingman produced the robin’s-egg and sky-blue material collectors seek. Its softness means it needs gentler handling than topaz, so ring wearers should remove pieces before manual work.
Tanzanite is the blue-violet variety of the mineral zoisite, a calcium aluminum hydroxyl sorosilicate. It is mined commercially in only one place on earth: a roughly four-square-mile area in the Merelani Hills near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Tanzanite measures 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale and shows pleochroism, meaning it displays different colors (blue, violet, and burgundy) depending on the viewing angle.
Zircon, the oldest of the four, is zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4) with a hardness of 7.5. Blue zircon, produced by heating brown material from Cambodia and Tanzania, has a bright fire that rivals diamond because of its high refractive index. Do not confuse natural zircon with cubic zirconia, which is a lab-made diamond simulant and a different material entirely.
How to Choose a December Birthstone Necklace Gift
Start with the wearer’s daily routine. Blue topaz and zircon handle everyday wear well, tanzanite works for regular use with reasonable care, and turquoise is best for occasional wear or protected settings. Match the stone to the person rather than the trend, since a gift that stays in the box is not a gift at all.
Chain length matters as much as the stone. A 16-inch chain sits at the collarbone, 18 inches falls just below, and 20 inches works over sweaters and higher necklines. For a pendant between 8mm and 12mm, an 18-inch chain suits most adults and layers well with shorter or longer pieces the recipient may already own.
Budget guidance for genuine stones in sterling silver: blue topaz pendants typically run $30 to $150, turquoise $40 to $200 depending on mine origin, zircon $80 to $300, and tanzanite $150 to $600 or higher based on color grade and carat weight. You can browse the full SilverRush Style catalog to compare settings and stone sizes side by side.
Care and Cleaning
Clean blue topaz, zircon, and tanzanite with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners on tanzanite, since sudden temperature changes can cause fractures along its cleavage plane. Turquoise should never be soaked; wipe it with a slightly damp cloth and keep it away from perfume, hairspray, and household cleaners, which can discolor the stone.
Store each piece separately in a soft pouch to prevent harder stones from scratching softer ones. For sterling silver settings, an anti-tarnish strip in the storage box slows oxidation between wears. A quick polish with a silver cloth before gifting restores the shine on any pieces that have been sitting in inventory.
December babies get four solid options, and any of them makes a thoughtful birthday or holiday gift. If you have questions about a specific stone origin, setting style, or chain length, our team can help you narrow the choice before you order.
