December Birthstone - Turquoise

Turquoise is the birthstone for December and is the accepted traditional anniversary gift for the 5th and 11th years of marriage. It is generally accepted that turquoise gets its name from "pierre turquoise" a French phrase meaning "Turkish stone." While some believe that the name comes from the Persian word "fiouze," meaning the color turquoise. Turquoise varies in color from greenish blue, through robin's egg-blue, to sky blue shadess and its transparency ranges from translucent to opaque. Turquoise is plentiful and is available in a wide range of sizes. It is most often used for beads, cabochons, carvings, and inlays. People all over the world believe that turquoise has the power to promote mental and spiritual clarity to enhance wisdom, trust, understanding, and kindness. Turquoise bright color gives self-confidence to different personalities, and is popularly given as a token of friendship as it symbolizes long lasting relationships.