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102 www.thejewelrybook.com December Winter begins in December and brings us the cool blues of three fabulous birthstones, Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon. Let us start with the newest addition to the group, Tanzanite. Amazingly this gem was only discovered in 1967 by a Masai Tribesman who stumbled onto a cluster of intensely blue colored gemstones while grazing his cattle. He hoped the gem was sapphire and sent it away for gemological testing. Before knowing the variety of gem, 90 mining claims within a 20-mile radius of the initial discovery had been claimed. The new find was identified as a never before seen violet-blue variety of Zoisite. Tiffany and Company had the honor of naming Tanzanite after the country it was discovered in, Tanzania. They secured exclusivity on the gemstone and began a massive marketing campaign in 1969 making Tanzanite a household name. There was instant demand for the gemstone because of its vivid color, large crystal sizes, and clarity. To this day, Tanzania remains the only location where Tanzanite is found. In 2002 the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America added Tanzanite to the list of De- cember birthstones, making December babies especially lucky. Zircon happens to be the oldest mineral on earth, sitting at 4.4 Billion years old respectively, making it older than our Moon. While Blue is the traditional color representing December, Zircon comes in a rainbow of colors, most of which are earth tones. It has incredible fire, brilliance, and a super-cool optical effect of birefringence, meaning you see double the facets when you look into the gemstone. Zircon has long been recommended as an amulet for travelers to protect against injuries and the plague. In fact, Zircon is said to lose its brilliance and grow pale and dull if anyone near you develops the plague, I wonder if it would work for Covid-19? Zircon was used to obtain a night of restful sleep, is seen as a powerful tool in exorcisms, and can also protect you from lightning strikes. To me, the best power of Zircon is its ability to assure a cordial reception when you check into your hotel. Turquoise, the final December birthstone has been used across the globe for more than 3,000 years. Egyptians used it for King Tutankhamen's burial mask, Chinese artisans carved it into ornate objects, Omi Privé Platinum earrings featuring 6.65 carat total weight pear-shape tanzanites accented by 1.05 carat total weight of round diamonds. Zircon Parlé Blue Zircon ring Fall 2021 | Birthstones

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