While we often think of the birthstones as being associated with a specific season, there are actually some fascinating facts about the December birthstone that you may not know.
| December is the birth month for the most popular of all gemstones. It is also the birthstone for the month of birth for more than two million Americans. |  |
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December is known as “the month of love” and “the month of the year”. But in the modern world, it’s more about the hustle and bustle of shopping and gift-giving. |
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December’s birthstone is Alexandrite, which is actually one of the four gemstones in the top tier of birthstones. According to legend, alexandrite was first found in India and was given this name by King Alexandros, the son of Alexander the Great. The stone was originally used to make crowns for the kings and queens of Egypt. The stone became popular in America during the 1960s, when it was discovered that wearing alexandrite on your wedding day is thought to bring good luck. |
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Alexandrite is a gemstone found in many parts of the world, including India and Africa. The color of this stone ranges from orange to red, and it has a brilliant shine. Alexandrite is popular because it is very hard and is known for its durability. It is also popular because it has been used by many cultures as an amulet to attract wealth and good fortune. In ancient Egypt, they used Alexandrite as a symbol of the sun. It was worn around the neck during ceremonies honoring the god Horus. Today, it is also used to decorate jewelry, as well as in art and sculpture. This gemstone has been associated with good luck. |
| On your birth date, you can always wear this birthstone. The birthstone that comes in the month of your birthday is a symbol of good luck. You should always wear it on the day of your birth. Your birthstone is a symbol of hope and success. It will bring you happiness and good fortune. |  |
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So, what are all the different birthstones, anyway? You might think you’re familiar with the concept of birthstone, but you probably weren’t. The birthstones are not the same as a birth month, but rather represent a group of stones in accordance to the month in which they are usually found. There are two types of birthstones: precious (precious gemstones) and semi-precious. Precious gems include emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, and pearls. Semi-precious gems include amethyst, aquamarine, beryl, citrine, chrysoprase, garnet, topaz, and zircon. |
| It’s pretty easy to recognize a diamond—it’s a beautiful stone. But did you know that birthstones are actually a mineral and not a stone? The four most popular birthstone are ruby, emerald, sapphire, and diamond. The gemological term for a birthstone is a "favor" or a "favored gem". |  |
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The birthstone for December is the sapphire. It’s a stone of wisdom and peace. It’s supposed to protect its wearer from negative energy. It was believed to bring good luck to people born under the sign of Capricorn, who are thought to have a high regard for the color sapphire. Sapphire also symbolizes protection, healing, and the strength to achieve your dreams. The sapphire is considered a stone of the past and of tradition. |
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If you don't know your birthstone, you're not alone. You are not alone in thinking you know what your birthstone is. According to the Gemological Institute of America, over 80% of Americans believe they know what their birthstone is. And, while this may be true, there's no way of knowing if you're right. What you can do is take a look at the list of traditional birthstones to see which one you believe is your birthstone. |  |
| In the US, people associate December birthstone with the Christmas season. And while this association is a true fact, a better way to think of the December birthstone is as a symbol of the winter solstice, or shortest day of the year. This time of year is the point when the sun is at its lowest point and it's still daytime. Winter is approaching. |  |
| In the United States, the birthstone is often associated with the month of December. This is because it was the month in which the first stones were discovered. In 1878, Auguste and Louis Agassiz found a few small pink and yellow quartz crystals in a creek near their house in Switzerland. |  |
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They took the stones to their father, a geologist named Alexander von Humboldt, who found out that they were natural formations, not man-made objects. Von Humboldt also noticed that these crystals resembled tiny versions of the minerals jasper, tourmaline, and amethyst, which he had found earlier. He realized that these stones were probably formed in volcanic lava, like the ones found in the nearby mountains. This is why we call them "fool's rocks." |
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December birthstones can be used for a variety of reasons. The top three reasons for choosing one of the three different gemstones are: 1) to remember special people in your life, 2) to symbolize the winter season 3) and to represent the 12-month calendar cycle. The top three birthstones for the month of December are amethyst, garnet, and aquamarine. |
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