Birthstones by month
Birthstones · Updated 2026-10-25
December Birthstone and Birth Flower: Meaning and Gift Ideas
The December birthstones are tanzanite, turquoise and zircon on the American Gem Society chart, and Jewelers of America adds blue topaz. All of them lean blue. December's birth flowers are the paperwhite narcissus and the holly. Turquoise is the oldest of the group, and tanzanite the newest.
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What do the December birthstones, tanzanite, turquoise and zircon, mean?
Turquoise has been cherished for millennia: pharaohs wore it, Chinese artisans carved it more than 3,000 years ago, and it adorns King Tut's funerary mask. It was believed to guarantee health and good fortune, and in European tradition a turquoise ring means forget me not. It rates 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale.
Tanzanite is a newer gem: blue stones from Tanzania were identified as zoisite in 1962, and the primary source in the Merelani Hills was found in 1967. Tiffany & Co. launched a major advertising campaign in 1968. It is 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale and rates a velvety blue to violet.
Zircon comes in a wide range of colors, and colorless zircon has so much fire that it was confused with diamond for centuries. Victorians loved blue zircon, and in the Middle Ages the stone was thought to lull people to sleep and scare off evil spirits. It ranges from 6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
What is the December birth flower?
The December birth flowers are the paperwhite narcissus and the holly. Paperwhite narcissus stands for renewal and good wishes for the year ahead, and holly represents domestic happiness and has been a winter decoration for centuries.
Paperwhite bulbs can be forced indoors in a shallow dish of stones and water in late November for holiday bloom, so a bulb-and-dish kit makes a charming gift that flowers right around a December birthday.
What are the best birthday gifts for someone born in December?
The biggest December birthday problem is the holidays. People born in December often get one combined gift, so a separate birthday present with birthday wrapping, and a different day for the celebration if you can, makes them feel seen.
Use Events in Prezynt to keep the birthday and the holidays as separate dates with their own saved ideas and reminders, so neither is lost.
What are the December birthstone facts?
Stone lists from the American Gem Society, meanings from GIA, and birth flowers from the Farmers' Almanac.
| Detail | December |
|---|
| Birthstone | Tanzanite, Turquoise, Zircon |
| Older or alternate choice | None listed; the main stone is the traditional pick |
| Color | Blue, from sky blue to violet-blue |
| What it stands for | Turquoise has been worn for health, good fortune and protection for thousands of years. |
| Birth flowers | Narcissus (Paperwhite) and Holly |
| Flower meaning | Paperwhite narcissus stands for renewal and good wishes; holly represents domestic happiness. |
| Hardness (Mohs scale) | Turquoise 5 to 6; tanzanite 6 to 7; zircon 6 to 7.5 |
| Wedding anniversary | Turquoise is the gem for the 11th anniversary; tanzanite for the 24th |
| Note on lists | Jewelers of America lists turquoise, blue topaz and tanzanite; the American Gem Society lists tanzanite, turquoise and zircon |
Gift picks
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Tanzanite and turquoise gifts
14K Gold Oval Tanzanite Infinite Symbol Pendant Necklace
$239.99 · YFN
A 14k gold oval tanzanite pendant with an infinity symbol, a splurge-level December birthday gift. Tanzanite is a December birthstone, and the velvety blue-violet looks lovely with winter colors.
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14k Tanzanite Earrings
$204.41 · My Gift Stop
Tanzanite earrings in 14k gold, a mid-to-high-priced gift in a December birthstone. The blue-violet stone glows in winter light, and the classic setting suits a dress, a coat or a holiday party.
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Women's Turquoise Drop Earrings
$127 · Mariana
Turquoise drop earrings, a mid-priced gift in another of December's birthstones. The soft sky blue suits a winter wardrobe, and the drop shape adds a little movement for a dinner out.
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Small Starburst Pendant With Turquoise Stone Necklace - 14K Gold Vermeil
$115 · eklexic
A small starburst pendant with a turquoise stone in 14k gold vermeil. Turquoise is one of December's birthstones, and the light starburst makes it a fitting gift for a winter birthday.
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Turquoise Pearl Necklace
$60 · MHART
A turquoise and pearl necklace at a friendly price. Turquoise is one of December's birthstones, and the pearl softens the blue, so it goes with both casual and festive clothes.
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Birthday gifts for someone born in December
14k Blue topaz Earrings - December
$88.26 · My Gift Stop
Blue topaz earrings from the December birthstone line, in 14k gold at an easy price. Jewelers of America lists blue topaz for December, and these studs suit a work outfit or a dress.
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Blue Ceramic Coffee Mugs with Gratitude Text - Set of 2 - CA
$22.99 · Dowan®
A set of two blue ceramic coffee mugs with gratitude text, a gentle gift in the blues of December's birthstones. They are inexpensive and easy to wrap, and they serve breakfast for two.
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ANYDECO Flower Vase Blue Large Meteorite Nordic Style Table Decor
$45.50 · Anycostore
A large blue Nordic-style flower vase, a decorative gift in the winter blues of December's birthstones. It stands on a table with branches or holiday greens, and it brings color to a shelf.
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Frequently asked
What are the December birthstones?
The December birthstones are tanzanite, turquoise and zircon on the American Gem Society chart. Jewelers of America lists turquoise, blue topaz and tanzanite.
What is the traditional December birthstone?
Turquoise is the oldest December stone, worn for thousands of years. Tanzanite was added much later, after its discovery in Tanzania in the 1960s.
What are the December birth flowers?
The December birth flowers are the paperwhite narcissus and the holly. Narcissus stands for renewal and good wishes, and holly represents domestic happiness.
Why is tanzanite considered a modern birthstone?
Tanzanite was only identified in the 1960s and promoted widely by Tiffany & Co. in 1968, so it is a far newer gem than turquoise or zircon.
How do I give a December birthday its own gift?
Wrap the birthday present separately from holiday gifts, add a card that is only about the birthday, and celebrate on a different day than the holiday if you can.