Turquoise is December's Birthstone

December's birthstone, turquoise, is opaque, sometimes containing translucent sections. Turquoise hardness on the Moh's scale is about 6, only a bit harder than the glass used for windows. The color of turquoise can range from magnificent powder and sky blues to aesthetically pleasing combinations of bluish green and yellowish green. The shades of blue are created by copper and the greens are the results of impurities.

This magnificent stone has a very long history. The Ancient Egyptians inlaid much of their royal jewelry with turquoise, including one of the most famous burial masks, the one belonging to King Tut. Turquoise was also used in Persia (now known as Iran) to decorate royal palaces because the sky blue of the gem reminded the palace's builders of the heavens.

Today turquoise is no longer used to decorate palaces or burial masks. However, this stone makes breathtaking turquoise jewelry, including turquoise pendants and turquoise rings. As December's birthstone, turquoise jewelry is the perfect gift for any loved one born in December. But turquoise's beauty and versatility go far beyond that, making this gem appropriate for any gift at any time. Come in to our store and see why this stone was used to decorate palaces; come into our store and see turquoise's unique beauty for yourself.