The list of aqua and turquoisecolor birthstonescan be long, and one celebrity event can remind you about birthstones.

Taylor Swift’s celebration of her 34th birthday in December 2023 in a New York night club was newsitself, but what made separate headlines was something she’s wearing that night at The Box.

And, no, we’re not talking about clothes here; rather, a piece of interesting custom jewelry.

Pictures of the event on her Instagram show the multi-awarded and billionaire (as of February 2024, per Bloomberg) singer-songwriter with a huge opalringon her right middle finger.

Opal - comes in various shades, including blue - is the birthstone of people born in October.

October happens to be the birth month of her boyfriend, Travis Kelce - prompting assumptions that it’s a gift from the 34-year-old NFL player, reported Page Six.

But, let’s talk about their romance some other time and focus on aqua and turquoisecolor birthstones for the meantime.

Blue Colors Birthstone

Renowned for his expertise in using color, French visual artist Henri Matisse once said, as quoted by A-Z Quotes:

Well, a certain blue can occupy your mind, catch your fancy, and be worn in one or two fingers, too!

According to Star Lanka, a leading Thai gemstone company, blue gemstonessuch as aqua and turquoise color birthstones are attributed to:

• wisdom
• royalty
• tranquility

Referring to a list provided by the International Gem Society (IGS) on its website, there are more than 30 blue gemstones. Some of them include the following:

Opal is one of the six other aqua and turquoise color birthstones featured in this article.

Aquamarine - March Birthstone

Mohs scale (hardness): 7.5 to 8

There are two birthstones assigned for March. One of them is the dark green bloodstone also called ematille and heliotrope.

The other one is aquamarine - from the Latin aqua marina(“seawater”).

Per Etymonline.com, it’s a type of gem called beryl (another popular beryl: emerald), and the term “aquamarine” refers to a “bluish-green color.”

This aqua and turquoise color birthstone, per GIA, is considered appropriate for a 19th wedding anniversary gift.

One of the Smithsonian Institution Museums in Washington, D.C., according to Gemological Institute of America (GIA), houses the 10,363-carat Dom Pedro Aquamarine.

Weighing approximately 4.6 pounds (about 2 kilograms), for a cut aquamarine, it’s considered to be the largest one so far.

Another museum, New York’s Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, safeguards one of the stunningly-cut aqua and turquoise color birthstones out there: a 1,298-carat dark blue aquamarine.

It’s owned by former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).

Some of the sources of aquamarine birthstonesare:

Boulder Opal - October Birthstone

Mohs scale: 5.5 to 6.5

Boulder opalis a variety of precious opal- the hardest opal, too - that forms within the cavities and cracks of ironstone boulders.

These opals typically have a dark brown or black ironstone matrix in which vibrant flashes of color appear - including shades of blue - creating a striking contrast. The opal forms as thin veins or patches within the boulder, making each piece unique in its color patterns and distribution.

Per GIA, this aqua and turquoise color birthstone is a fitting 14th wedding anniversary gift.

In addition, the California-based institute informs that boulder opal birthstones can only be mined in Queensland, Australia.

Some sources of other opal:

Teal Zircon - December Birthstone

Mohs scale: 6 to 7.5

Those born in December have not one, not two, but three birthstones, namely:

• blue or teal zircon (zircon’s mineral name: zirconium silicate)
• tanzanite
• turquoise (which we’ll talk about next)

IGS noted that teal zircon is one of the most popular aqua and turquoise color birthstones because of its strong resemblance to diamond. In fact, the level of its brilliance is higher than that of a:

• ruby
• sapphire
• tanzanite

Zircon has a variety of colors and those that are blue are also known as Siam zircon or starlite zircon, according to Gem Adventurer.

Some sources of teal zircon include:

• Cambodia (top source)
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania

Turquoise - December Birthstone

Mohs scale: 5 to 6

This birthstone has these colors:

• light blue
• medium blue
• greenish blue

According to GIA:

Sometimes, when turquoise are mined, some fragments from the rocks where it’s located get into them; thus, giving them “web-like patterns” - referred to as the “matrix” (the rock fragments) - as explained by GIA.

Some sources of turquoise:

Topaz - November Birthstone

Mohs scale: 8

For reference, diamond is 10 and quartzis 7 (making topazharder than the latter). Topazis also harder than a steel nail (6.5 in Mohs scale).

One of the gorgeous aqua and turquoise color birthstones is the topaz, which, together with citrine(colors: brownish orange, yellow), are November birthstones.

The blue topaz will make for a perfect gift to couples during their fourth wedding anniversary, per GIA.

Per the School of Natural Resources of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, some sources of topaz are:

• Mexico (a primary source)
• Russia (Ural Mountains)
• Sri Lanka
• USA (California, Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, Utah)

Tourmaline - October Birthstone

Mohs scale: 7 to 7.5

The term “tourmaline” is from toramalli(“stone with mixed colors”), a Sinhalese word from Sri Lanka.

Indeed, this union of varied hues is what makes it one of the finest aqua and turquoise color birthstones out there. As GIA remarked:

One of the famous Russian crown jewels is a pendant called Caesar’s Ruby.

Upon scrutiny, Russian geochemist and mineralogist Alexander Fersman (1883-1945) declared it as a red “rubellite tourmaline”and not a ruby, according to the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A).

Recommended as an eighth wedding anniversary gift, per GIA, some sources of tourmaline:

FAQs About Aqua And Turquoise Color Birthstones

What Is The Benefit Of Blue Color Stone?

We shall limit the answer to the six aqua and turquoise color birthstones featured here.

According to GIA, these birthstones attract positive energy or vibes, and they can likewise function like a good luck stone:

a. Aquamarine

• joy to a married couple
• good for sea travels (calms the waves)

b. Boulder Opal

• protection from getting sick
• represents truth and hope

c. Teal Zircon(per IGS)

• for prosperity
• to gain confidence

d. Turquoise(per IGS)

• brings good fortune
• increases positive energy

e. Topaz

• gives warmth
• can calm someone

f. Tourmaline

• provides stamina
• boost one’s courage

Are Blue Gems Expensive?

They can get expensive depending on the number of carats.

Below are the prices of some aqua and turquoise color birthstones taken from Star Lanka’s website (prices indicated are at the time of writing):

What Is The Prettiest Blue Gemstone?

Sapphire is considered the most popular and most beautiful blue-colored gemstones.

IGS stated that it’s also a frequent choice for an engagement ring.

Final Thoughts

So far, among the aqua and turquoise color birthstones mentioned here, what have piqued your interest?

Does the durability of topaz make it desirable for you, or is it the diamond-like appeal of teal zircon?

Per Page Six, Taylor Swift’s opal ringwas estimated to cost as much as $175,000. Of course, you don’t have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just to have your very own blue-colored birthstone.

When getting one of those aqua and turquoise color birthstones, choose what your pocket and heart can afford - and wear them proudly like Swift.