December – Tanzanite or Turquoise

Tanzanite

Those lucky enough to be born in December have 2 gemstones to choose from as their Birthstone! In comparison to Turquoise, Tanzanite is a relatively new discovery. In 1967 it is said to have been found by a Portuguese prospector, Manuel d'Souza, who was trying to find Sapphire at the Meralanie Hills in the Lelatema district of Tanzania. Originally he believed the samples of gems to be Peridot, however after further gemological investigations it was discovered that it was a new variety of the gem mineral Zoisite. Tiffany and Co, the famous jewelers, who on viewing the new gemstone described it as a sensation, promptly named the gem Tanzanite, after the place in which it was found.

Tanzanite is meant to enhance spiritual connections within the wearer.

Turquoise

Turquoise is an opaque gemstone which ranges in colour from light blue to dark blue greens. This distinctive colour is caused by the amount of Copper present within the stone and traditionally the most desirable colour in Turquoise is a ‘Robin’s Egg Blue’. Turquoise is considered to be rare and valuable in very fine grades and has been highly sought after for many centuries. It is believed that the name Turquoise is derived from the French ‘Turquie’, a name given to Iranian Turquoise which was imported via Turkey.

Turquoise forms when pre-existing rocks and minerals are weathered and oxidized, subsequently forming an acidic copper rich solution which then percolates through the fissures in surrounding rocks. This mother rock becomes ‘matrix’ within the stone when the Turquoise is removed, and can be seen as splotches or a network of brown veins running throughout the stone.

Turquoise is believed to bring fortune, luck and success to the wearer.