Turquoise meaning & facts
Turquoise is a birthstone for December. Turquoise is one of the oldest known gems and is linked with protection, luck, friendship and healing.
- Birth month
- December
- Colour
- Sky blue to green
- Mineral
- Copper aluminium phosphate
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 5–6
- Main sources
- Iran, the southwestern United States and China
Turquoise facts
- Turquoise was prized in ancient Egypt, Persia and by the Aztecs.
- Its name comes from French for "Turkish stone", because it reached Europe through Turkey.
- Dark lines in some turquoise, called matrix, are the remains of the rock it formed in.
Birthstones by month
Frequently asked questions
What does turquoise mean?
Turquoise is one of the oldest known gems and is linked with protection, luck, friendship and healing.
What month is turquoise the birthstone for?
Turquoise is a birthstone for December. The other December birthstones are Tanzanite and Zircon.
How hard is turquoise?
Turquoise rates 5–6 on the Mohs hardness scale, which runs from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).
Gemstone meanings are traditional beliefs, shared for interest rather than as proven properties.