Turquoise vs Tanzanite vs Zircon: Which December Birthstone Is Best?

If you’re choosing a December birthstone, you don’t have to settle for just one option. Turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon are all recognized December birthstones, but they look and wear very differently.

Turquoise is known for its opaque blue-to-green color and natural character. Tanzanite stands out for its blue-to-violet color and rarity. Zircon offers transparent color, strong brilliance, and noticeable fire.

So which is best?

Choose turquoise for an earthy, distinctive look, tanzanite for a rare blue-violet gemstone, or zircon if sparkle and versatility matter most. Your ideal choice also depends on whether the stone will be worn in a ring, pendant, earrings, or another piece of jewelry.

Turquoise vs Tanzanite vs Zircon at a Glance

Feature	Turquoise	Tanzanite	Zircon
Typical color	Blue to green	Blue to violet	Blue plus many other colors
Appearance	Opaque to semi-translucent	Transparent	Transparent and highly brilliant
Mohs hardness	5–6	6–7	6–7.5
Main appeal	Color, character and history	Rare blue-violet color	Brilliance and fire
Toughness/wear concerns	Relatively soft and can be sensitive to chemicals	Fair to poor toughness; cleavage can make it vulnerable to blows	Can abrade and chip with rough wear
Treatment	Stabilization and other treatments are common	Heat treatment is common	Heat treatment is common for some colors
Best suited to	Pendants, earrings and protected jewelry	Earrings, pendants and occasional-wear rings	Earrings, pendants and carefully worn rings
December birthstone	Yes	Yes	Yes

The biggest difference is that these stones offer three very different visual experiences: turquoise is about surface color and character, tanzanite is about rich blue-violet color, and zircon is about sparkle. GIA lists turquoise at 5–6 on the Mohs scale, tanzanite at 6–7, and zircon at 6–7.5.

What Is the Difference Between Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon?

Although all three can be associated with December, they are completely different gemstones.

Turquoise is an opaque to semi-translucent phosphate mineral that typically ranges from blue to green. It can contain natural matrix patterns, which means two pieces can have very different appearances.

Tanzanite is a blue-to-violet variety of zoisite found commercially only in the Merelani Hills of northern Tanzania. Its color can vary between blue and violet depending on viewing direction, and most tanzanite is heat-treated to produce the colors buyers commonly expect.

Zircon is a natural gemstone with a much broader color range. Blue zircon is especially associated with December, but zircon can also occur in colorless, yellow, orange, red, brown and green varieties. Its high brilliance and fire can make it particularly appealing to people who prefer a faceted, sparkly gemstone.

Turquoise: Best for Color and Character

Turquoise has an appearance that is difficult to confuse with either tanzanite or zircon.

Instead of transparent facets and sparkle, turquoise gives you a smooth, opaque field of blue, blue-green or green. Some stones also show matrix, the remnants of the rock in which the turquoise formed.

That natural variation is part of its appeal.

Turquoise also has a long history in jewelry. GIA notes that it has been treasured for thousands of years and was used by ancient Egyptian rulers and Chinese artisans.

Turquoise durability

Turquoise has a Mohs hardness of about 5–6, making it the softest of these three December birthstones. It can also be affected by heat, chemicals, cosmetics, skin oils and perspiration.

That doesn’t mean turquoise can’t be worn as jewelry. It simply means you should be more selective about where and how you wear it.

A turquoise pendant or pair of earrings can be a practical choice because the stone is less exposed to impacts than it would be in a ring.

Is turquoise good for an engagement ring?

It can be, especially if you love its distinctive appearance, but it isn’t the easiest choice for an everyday engagement ring.

Turquoise is softer and more sensitive to environmental exposure than many traditional engagement-ring gemstones. A protective setting and careful wear can help, but people looking for a low-maintenance center stone may prefer a harder gemstone.

If you like unconventional engagement jewelry, turquoise can still create a beautiful statement.

Tanzanite: Best for Rare Blue-Violet Color

Tanzanite has a very different personality from turquoise.

It is transparent, faceted and typically ranges from blue to violet. Its color can appear different depending on the viewing direction because of its pleochroic properties.

Tanzanite is also the rarest in terms of geographic source. GIA states that the Merelani Hills in northern Tanzania are the only commercial source of tanzanite.

That limited origin is a major part of its appeal.

Tanzanite durability

Tanzanite has a Mohs hardness of 6–7, so it is harder than turquoise. However, hardness isn’t the whole story.

Tanzanite has fair-to-poor toughness and cleavage, which means a hard impact can cause damage. GIA specifically recommends extra care with tanzanite and notes that it is better suited to earrings and pendants than rings worn every day.

If you’re interested in another blue gemstone comparison, the existing Sapphire vs Tanzanite guide can help put tanzanite’s appearance and characteristics into context.

Is tanzanite good for an engagement ring?

Tanzanite can work beautifully in an engagement ring, but it is better viewed as a special-care alternative rather than a carefree everyday center stone.

A protective setting can reduce the risk of damage. If you have an active lifestyle or don’t want to think much about protecting your ring, a more durable gemstone may be a better fit.

Zircon: Best for Sparkle and Fire

Zircon is often the most misunderstood of the three.

Despite its similar name, natural zircon is not cubic zirconia. Zircon is a naturally occurring gemstone, while cubic zirconia is a laboratory-created material used as a diamond simulant.

Natural zircon is available in many colors, including blue, and colorless zircon is particularly known for its brilliance and flashes of spectral color known as fire.

Zircon durability

Zircon ranges from 6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, depending on the material. That gives it a higher hardness range than turquoise and a comparable or higher range than tanzanite.

However, zircon isn’t indestructible.

GIA notes that zircon can be brittle and tends to abrade, so rough wear can damage the stone or wear down its facet edges. It is therefore better treated as a gemstone that needs sensible care rather than as a substitute for a highly durable stone such as sapphire.

Is zircon good for an engagement ring?

Of the three, zircon can be an appealing option if you want strong sparkle without choosing a traditional diamond or sapphire.

But a zircon engagement ring still deserves care. Avoid wearing it during activities where the stone could experience hard impacts or repeated abrasion.

Turquoise vs Tanzanite vs Zircon: Color and Appearance

Color is one of the easiest ways to separate the three.

Turquoise

Turquoise is generally opaque, with colors ranging from blue to green. Matrix patterns can give the stone a distinctive, organic appearance.

Its appeal comes more from its body color and character than from sparkle.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite is transparent and blue to violet. Fine stones can display rich saturation, and their pleochroism can produce different blue, violet or related hues depending on viewing direction.

It has a sophisticated, slightly mysterious appearance that works particularly well in faceted jewelry.

Zircon

Zircon can be blue, colorless, yellow, orange, red, brown, green and other colors.

Blue zircon is the obvious comparison with the other December birthstones, but don’t overlook colorless zircon. Its brilliance and fire can make it look dramatically different from the opaque surface of turquoise.

For an earthy blue: choose turquoise.

For a deep blue-violet: choose tanzanite.

For lively sparkle: choose zircon.

Which Is More Durable: Turquoise, Tanzanite or Zircon?

If you’re comparing only Mohs hardness, the order is roughly:

Zircon → Tanzanite → Turquoise

But that doesn’t tell the entire story.

Gemstone	Mohs hardness	Main durability concern
Turquoise	5-6	Softness, chemicals, heat and surface damage
Tanzanite	6-7	Cleavage, abrasion and hard impacts
Zircon	6-7.5	Abrasion and brittleness

So zircon has the highest hardness range of the three, but it isn’t automatically the safest stone for every situation.

Toughness matters too. A gemstone can resist scratching reasonably well and still be vulnerable to chipping or breaking when struck.

That’s why jewelry design and wearing habits matter just as much as the hardness number.

Which Needs the Most Care?

All three require some care, but turquoise is particularly sensitive to chemicals and environmental exposure.

Turquoise care

Use warm, soapy water and avoid:

• Steam cleaners
• Ultrasonic cleaners
• Harsh chemicals
• Excessive heat
• Prolonged exposure to cosmetics and oils

GIA specifically warns that heat and solvents can damage treated turquoise.

Tanzanite care

Use warm, soapy water.

Avoid:

• Steam cleaners
• Ultrasonic cleaners
• Hard impacts
• Sudden temperature changes
• Very high heat

Tanzanite’s cleavage makes avoiding sharp blows particularly important.

Zircon care

Use warm water, mild soap and a soft brush.

Avoid:

• Steam cleaners
• Ultrasonic cleaners
• Rough activities
• Hard impacts
• Repeated abrasion

GIA recommends avoiding rough conditions because zircon can abrade and some material can be brittle.

Turquoise vs Tanzanite vs Zircon: Which Is More Valuable?

There isn’t a simple rule that one of these gemstones is always more expensive.

Gemstone value depends on factors such as:

• Color
• Saturation
• Clarity
• Cut
• Size
• Origin
• Treatment
• Overall quality
• Market demand

Tanzanite can command significant prices because of its limited geographic source and desirable color, while fine turquoise can also be valuable when it has exceptional color, quality and provenance.

Zircon covers a broad range of colors and qualities, so prices can vary considerably as well.

Rather than choosing a stone solely because it is “more valuable,” consider whether its appearance and durability make sense for the jewelry you want.

Are Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon Treated?

Yes. Treatment is an important part of buying colored gemstones.

Turquoise treatments

Some turquoise is stabilized or otherwise treated to improve durability, color or surface appearance. GIA notes that turquoise may be dyed or enhanced with epoxy or acrylic resin.

Tanzanite treatment

Most tanzanite begins as brownish zoisite and is routinely heat-treated to produce the blue-to-violet colors commonly associated with the gem. GIA notes that this treatment is stable.

Zircon treatment

Zircon is commonly heat-treated to produce blue and colorless varieties, among other colors. Some heat-treated zircon can potentially change back toward its original color after prolonged exposure to bright light.

When buying any of these gemstones, ask what treatments have been applied rather than assuming that “treated” means low quality.

Turquoise vs Tanzanite vs Zircon for Rings

If you’re specifically choosing a gemstone for a ring, the decision becomes more practical.

Choose turquoise for a ring if:

• You love opaque blue or blue-green color.
• You want an artistic or bohemian appearance.
• You don’t mind extra care.
• The ring won’t be subjected to heavy daily wear.
• You prefer character over sparkle.

Choose tanzanite for a ring if:

• You want blue-violet color.
• You value rarity and a distinctive origin story.
• You plan to wear the ring carefully.
• A protective setting is acceptable.
• The ring is more occasional than workhorse jewelry.

Choose zircon for a ring if:

• You want noticeable brilliance and fire.
• You prefer a transparent faceted gemstone.
• You want a natural alternative to more conventional center stones.
• You are willing to protect the stone from rough wear.

For a daily-wear engagement ring, however, all three deserve more care than extremely durable choices such as sapphire.

Turquoise vs Tanzanite vs Zircon: Which Should You Choose?

The best choice depends on what matters most to you.

Choose turquoise if appearance and individuality come first. Its opaque blue-green color and natural matrix can make every stone feel distinctive.

Choose tanzanite if rarity and blue-violet color are the priority. Its limited geographic source and unusual color make it especially appealing for someone who wants something less common.

Choose zircon if sparkle is the deciding factor. Its brilliance and fire make it the most visually “sparkly” option of the three.

For a pendant or earrings, any of the three can be attractive with appropriate care.

For a ring, think carefully about your lifestyle and how much maintenance you’re comfortable with. None of these stones should be treated like an indestructible diamond.

If you’re exploring December birthstone jewelry specifically, you can also browse the December birthstone rings collection for styles featuring the month’s gemstone theme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final words

Turquoise, tanzanite and zircon may share December as a birthstone month, but they offer very different experiences.

Turquoise is the choice for distinctive blue-green color and historic character.

Tanzanite is the choice for rare blue-violet beauty and a unique geographic origin.

Zircon is the choice for natural sparkle, brilliance and fire.

If you’re buying jewelry rather than simply choosing a birthstone, don’t stop at color. Consider durability, treatment, setting, care requirements and how often you’ll wear the piece. The best December birthstone is the one that fits both your style and your lifestyle.