December’s official birthstones each have their own distinct winter magic.

Admired since ancient times, Turquoise is known for its distinct color, which ranges from powdery blue to greenish robin’s egg blue. It’s one of few minerals to lend its name to anything that resembles its striking color.

Zircon is an underrated gemstone that’s often confused with synthetic cubic zirconia due to similar names and shared use as diamond simulants. Few people realize that zircon is a spectacular natural gemstone available in a variety of colors.

Tanzanite is the exquisite blue-purple variety of the mineral zoisite that is only found in one part of the world. Named for its limited geographic origin in Tanzania, tanzanite has quickly risen to popularity since its relatively recent discovery.

Although Blue Topaz is not an official December birthstone, it’s commonly used in place of Blue Zircon because natural zircon is rare and harder to source. Blue Topaz offers a similar icy, vivid blue with greater availability and affordability, making it a popular and beautiful alternative for December jewelry.