Collection: December Birthstones

According to George Kunz’s 1893 research, five out of seven cultures historically recognized ruby as December’s birthstone, while Poland and Russia assigned this position to turquoise and chrysoprase. Biblical texts, which influenced European birthstone traditions, linked December to beryl or chrysoprase.
In 1912, the American National Retail Jewelers Association restructured the birthstone list, moving ruby to July and making turquoise the stone of December, based on the idea that a cooler-colored stone suited winter better. This mirrored the Polish birthstone list, popularized in 18th-century Europe by Queen Marie Leszczyńska of France. Lapis lazuli was also added but later replaced by blue zircon. In 2002, blue topaz and tanzanite were introduced—likely influenced by Tiffany & Co., which heavily marketed tanzanite after its discovery in the late 20th century.
With so many options, December offers a wide birthstone selection. However, for those valuing historical tradition and mystical connections, ruby remains the strongest choice.