December Birthstone: Turquoise Meaning, Color & Jewelry

The meaning of December's birthstone

Turquoise is one of the oldest gems in human history, set into the treasures of ancient Egypt, carried along the trade routes of Persia, and held sacred in the jewelry of the Navajo, Zuni, and other peoples of the American Southwest. Across all of these cultures it was seen as a sky stone and an amulet, worn for protection, healing, and good fortune, and given as a token of friendship. That long and shared history gives turquoise a warmth that few gems carry. As a December birthstone it brings that sense of protection and connection to a gift, a stone with deep roots.

It is a stone of history as much as color, and as one jewelry house notes, "Turquoise has historic significance and distinctive color patterns, but is softer and more delicate."

Gabriel and Co.

The color of turquoise

Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate, and unlike most birthstones it is opaque rather than transparent, valued for its color and surface rather than its sparkle. Its hue runs from a pure, intense sky blue, driven by copper, through blue green to green as more iron enters the stone, and the clean robin's egg blue is the classic ideal. Many turquoise stones also show matrix, the veins and webbing of the host rock running through them; a fine, even spiderweb matrix is prized in its own right, so character here is not always a flaw. Because turquoise is soft and porous, most of it is stabilized with resin to harden the stone and protect its color, a common and accepted practice. For a closer look at color, matrix, and treatment, the guide to evaluating turquoise quality breaks it down.

Choosing turquoise jewelry

Choose the look you are drawn to, whether a clean, even sky blue or a stone with a striking web of matrix, since both are valued and the choice is largely personal. Turquoise is cut as cabochons, beads, and inlay rather than faceted, which suits its opaque beauty. It is well worth asking whether a stone is natural, stabilized, dyed, or reconstituted, because that affects both durability and value, and a reputable seller will tell you. For metal, sterling silver is the classic partner and the heart of Southwestern style, while yellow gold gives turquoise a richer, warmer frame. The turquoise jewelry at Oath includes rings, necklaces, and earrings in gold and sterling silver. For ideas on wearing it through the year, see how to style birthstone jewelry month by month.

Turquoise Wide Band Ring

Turquoise enamel banded with diamonds in silver, a bold, modern statement ring.

Turquoise Inlay Station Necklace

Turquoise and mother of pearl inlay along a gold chain, warm and easy to layer.

Turquoise Butterfly Studs

Little turquoise butterflies in yellow gold, a soft pop of sky blue at the ear.

Caring for turquoise jewelry

Turquoise is soft at 5 to 6 and porous, which makes it one of the more delicate gems to live with. It readily absorbs oils, lotions, perfume, and even sweat, all of which can darken or discolor a stone over time, so the simple rule is last on, first off. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner or any chemical; instead wipe turquoise with a soft, dry or barely damp cloth. Keep it away from heat and from harder stones that could scratch it, and choose a protective setting for any turquoise worn in a ring. With that gentle care, turquoise keeps its color for generations. The fine jewelry care guide covers cleaning and storage for every stone and metal in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

What is the birthstone for December?

Turquoise is a birthstone for December, sharing the month with tanzanite and zircon, which gives people born in December a choice that ranges from ancient turquoise to vivid violet blue tanzanite.

What color is turquoise?

Turquoise ranges from a pure sky blue through blue green to green, often crossed by the darker veins of matrix, with the clean robin's egg blue the classic ideal.

Is turquoise good for everyday jewelry?

Turquoise is soft and porous at 5 to 6, so it suits earrings and pendants worn with care more than knockabout rings, and it lasts best when kept from chemicals, oils, and hard knocks.

What does turquoise symbolize?

Turquoise stands for protection, good fortune, and friendship, a meaning carried across ancient Egypt, Persia, and the cultures of the American Southwest that held it sacred.

How can I tell real turquoise from fake?

Genuine turquoise has a natural variation in color and matrix that dyed howlite and plastic imitations rarely capture convincingly. The guide to telling real turquoise from fake walks through the signs to check.

Why is most turquoise stabilized?

Most turquoise is stabilized because the natural stone is soft and porous, and untreated it can crack, crumble, or fade. Stabilizing fills the stone with clear resin to harden it and lock in the color, a common and accepted treatment.

What is matrix in turquoise?

Matrix is the web of veins from the host rock that runs through many turquoise stones, in shades of brown, tan, or black. A fine, even pattern is called spiderweb matrix and is valued in its own right rather than seen as a flaw.

Where does turquoise come from?

Turquoise has been mined for millennia in Iran, long the source of an even sky blue, and in the American Southwest, where Arizona and Nevada produce prized stones. China is the largest modern source of the world's turquoise.

Can turquoise change color over time?

Turquoise can shift toward green or darken as it slowly absorbs oils, lotions, and moisture through its porous surface. Keeping it away from chemicals and putting it on last helps the stone hold its original sky blue.

Turquoise is an ancient, characterful way to mark a December birthday, with protection and friendship behind its sky blue. Every order ships free with a 30-day return policy.