Turquoise – The December Birthstone | Joe's Jewelry Gems
Not all cultures share the same birthstone for each month of the year. In fact, not all cultures use the same calendar. English-speaking societies normally follow the Gregorian calendar which has poems matching each month with its birthstone. An old English poem suggests that the turquoise is the traditional December birthstone:
“If cold December gave you birth
The month of snow and ice and mirth
Place on your hand a turquoise blue
Success will bless whate’er you do.”
Turquoise is associated with properties like prosperity, success, happiness and good fortune. The traditional metaphysical properties for this December birthstone are open communication, protection against all diseases, regeneration, and strengthening. Turquoise is reputed to have healing properties, especially for health problems relating to the respiratory system, teeth, infection and depression. It is also used to enhance creativity, serenity and spiritual bonding.
Turquoise was considered by ancients to be a sacred stone, protective against all manners of evil and ill health. Its value was first discovered by Egyptians around 6000 BC. It is also held sacred by the North American Indians and Tibetans. The stone is used in rituals and ceremonies officiated by shamans because it is believed to promote spiritual and mental clarity. Turquoise is also believed to enhance one’s trust, understanding, kindness and wisdom. Today, a gift of turquoise represents friendship and luck.
The word “turquoise” is derived from the Greek word “Turkois” which means “Turkish”, as it was first brought from Turkey. “Turquoise” means “stone of Turkey” in French. It is one of the first gems to be used in jewelry, and one of the most valuable non-transparent minerals often used in making jewelry. Turquoise was a popular gem used in Victorian jewelry.
A soft, opaque stone with a hardness of between 5- 6, turquoise is found in colors ranging from sky-blue to bluish-green to a true, vivid green or apple-green. It can also be found in greenish and yellowish gray. The traditional color associated with this stone is sky-blue. Of all the so-called December birthstones, turquoise is probably the most popular because of its value and unique range of colors.
Colors represent many aspects of life. Social, religious, and biblical symbolism were all reflected in the color turquoise. Turquoise represents the life cycle of birth, old age and death, as it changes color with the passing of time. Native Americans associated the turquoise with the blue sky and green earth. They believed that wearing turquoise resulted in happiness and security.
The first century Jewish historian Josephus connected the twelve stones in Aaron’s breastplate to the twelve months of the year and the twelve signs of the zodiac. The Breastplate of Aaron, High Priest of Israel, is referred to in Exodus 28:17-21:
17 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz and a beryl;
18 in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald;
19 in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;
20 in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings.
21 There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
Wearing birthstones first gained popularity in Poland in the fifteenth century. As the powers of the gemstone were supposed to be heightened during its month, those who could afford it owned an entire set of twelve gemstones and rotated them monthly, wearing the birthstone for each month, for best effect.
The finest-quality turquoise is mined in Iran, although high-grade stones can also be found in the southwestern parts of United States such as in Arizona and New Mexico. Turquoise of poor quality is often dyed or applied with coatings of various resins. Turquoise consists of copper aluminum phosphate. In fact, it is the only gemstone belonging to the phosphate family. Turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of aluminum with a small percentage of copper which gives it the blue coloring. Mixed with iron, the color tends to be greenish. Blue turquoise is valued as a gemstone.