December Birthday Gift Ideas: Meaningful Jewellery They'll Treasure
November 13, 2026
Last updated: 13 November 2026
December has three traditional birthstones, turquoise, tanzanite and zircon, and two birth flowers, holly and narcissus. That gives you three easy ways to choose a December birthday gift that says something about the person wearing it: a turquoise piece, a personalised initial and birthstone piece, or a holly birth flower piece.
If someone you love was born in December, you'll know the trap. Their birthday lands in the middle of everything Christmas brings, and too often it gets folded into one combined present. A piece chosen for their birth month is a simple way to give the birthday its own moment.
What Is the December Birthstone? Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon
December has three traditional birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. All three come in shades of blue, and any one of them is a correct choice.
Turquoise
Turquoise is the original December birthstone, and the one most people picture. It's an opaque stone in shades from sky blue to blue-green, often with fine natural veining. Traditionally, turquoise is associated with protection and positive energy, which is why it has long been given as a keepsake.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a blue-violet stone first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, which gave it its name. Traditionally, tanzanite is associated with transformation.
Zircon
Zircon is a natural mineral with a long history in jewellery, and blue zircon is the shade most linked with December. It isn't the same as cubic zirconia, which is a laboratory-made stone. Traditionally, zircon is associated with wisdom.
Why does December have three birthstones?
Birthstone lists have been updated over time. Turquoise was listed as December's stone in 1912, zircon was added in 1952, and tanzanite joined in 2002.
How we use turquoise
At lulu + belle, turquoise is the stone we've chosen for December, and you can wear it in three ways:
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Genuine, natural turquoise in our pendant necklace, stud earrings and Dainty Birthstone Pendant, polished as a smooth cabochon in gold vermeil or sterling silver. Each stone varies a little in colour and veining, because each one is natural.
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Genuine turquoise on our personalised initial necklaces, paired with an engraved initial.
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December birthstone crystal in our necklace, bracelet and hoop earrings: a bright blue drop of colour, made in our Irish studio, for easy everyday wear.
You'll find them all in our December birthstone collection. Turquoise is a softer stone, so we'd suggest putting it on after perfume and lotion; our jewellery care guide covers the rest.
A Note from Sandra
"I sometimes feel sorry for people with a December birthday because if their birthday is too close to Christmas their gift can get rolled into one birthday/Christmas gift. I'm a firm believer in taking every opportunity to celebrate, and December birthdays are no different. A gorgeous dainty piece of turquoise jewellery, a vibrant birthstone crystal piece or the holly birth flower with someone's initial on the back are all beautiful, personal gifts for loved ones born in December."
— Sandra, founder of lulu + belle
The December Birth Flower: Holly (and Narcissus)
Holly is the December birth flower. With its evergreen leaves and bright red berries, holly brings warmth to winter, and traditionally it symbolises renewal, strength in adversity and the cheer of the season.
December also has a second birth flower: the narcissus, usually the white, winter-flowering paperwhite. Traditionally, the narcissus stands for hope and good wishes.
Our December birth flower collection is engraved with holly on a 12.7mm rolled gold or silver disc, as a necklace or a bracelet. Each piece comes with a birth flower chart card. Our guide to birth flowers by month covers every month's flower.
Our Favourite December Birthday Gift Ideas
Here's our edit of December birthday gifts, grouped by stone and flower.
Genuine, natural turquoise
Genuine turquoise, with an initial
December birthstone crystal
- December Birthstone Necklace, Gold (€79) or Silver (€69).
- December Birthstone Bracelet, Gold (€69) or Silver (€65).
- December Birthstone Hoop Earrings, Gold (€75) or Silver (€69).
Holly: the December birth flower
By budget, at a glance
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Under €60: the Dainty Birthstone Pendant in turquoise (€45) or turquoise studs (€55–€59).
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€60–€80: a December birthstone crystal necklace, bracelet or hoops, a holly bracelet or silver holly necklace, or the Dainty Silver Initial Necklace with turquoise.
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€80 and over: the turquoise pendant necklace, the gold holly necklace, a gold initial necklace with turquoise, or the 9ct gold holly necklace.
Who Are You Shopping For?
For a partner, a sister or a friend, a finished piece is the simplest choice. The turquoise pendant, a December birthstone crystal necklace or a holly necklace is complete as it is.
If you'd like her initial in it, our initial + birthstone necklaces pair an engraved initial with genuine turquoise, so she gets her initial and December's birthstone in one piece. Holly pieces can also be engraved on the back: up to eight characters on the necklace, or a single initial on the bracelet. There are more ideas in our personalised jewellery collection.
If she already wears a chain she loves, the Dainty Birthstone Pendant in turquoise is the easy route. It adds December to a necklace she has already chosen, and it can grow over time, with one pendant for each person who matters to her, layered together.
For a mum, an initial necklace with turquoise can carry a child born in December, and further discs can be added for the rest of the family. Our guide to family and multi-generational jewellery walks through the options, and our mum jewellery collection has more ideas.
And if you were born in December yourself, there's no need to wait for someone else to remember.
Birthday and Christmas: How to Give a December Birthday Its Own Gift
A December birthday deserves to feel like a birthday, not an early Christmas present. A few small choices make the difference:
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Give it on the day. Even if the birthday falls close to Christmas, hand it over on the birthday itself, not under the tree.
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Keep it in its own box. Skip the Christmas paper and let the gift box speak for itself, so it's clearly a separate present.
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Name the birthday in the card. A note that says "Happy Birthday", not "Happy Christmas and Happy Birthday", matters more than people expect.
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Choose something for all year. Turquoise, an initial or holly isn't a Christmas piece. It's a piece for her month, and she'll keep wearing it long after the decorations come down.
Does It Come in a Gift Box?
Yes. Every lulu + belle order comes in our gift box as standard, so it's ready to give. If you'd like to add something extra, our Add Gift Bag + Gift Note (€4) is an optional add-on: a rose gold foiled gift bag with a matching note carrying your message, which is an easy way to put "Happy Birthday" in writing.
Our personalised pieces, including the initial necklaces and engraved holly pieces, are made to order and dispatched within 2 working days.
Choosing a December Birthday Gift
Turquoise, an initial or a sprig of holly all say the same thing in different ways: this was chosen for you, because of when you were born. Explore the December birthstone collection, browse all our birthstone jewellery, or see the holly birth flower collection for a quieter alternative. Shopping for Christmas too? Our Christmas gifts for her guide is organised by who you're buying for, and our September and July birthday guides follow the same approach. To see every month's natural stone, meet our Element Birthstone Collection.
December Birthstone FAQ
What is the birthstone for December?
December has three traditional birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. Turquoise is the original, and it's the stone lulu + belle uses for December.
Why does December have three birthstones?
Turquoise was listed as December's birthstone in 1912, zircon was added in 1952 and tanzanite in 2002. All three are now recognised, so any of them is a correct choice.
What is the December birth flower?
Holly is the December birth flower. The narcissus, usually the paperwhite, is December's second birth flower.
What does holly mean?
Traditionally, holly symbolises renewal, strength in adversity and the cheer of the season.
What do turquoise, tanzanite and zircon symbolise?
Traditionally, turquoise is associated with protection and positive energy, tanzanite with transformation and zircon with wisdom.
Can I combine a December birthstone or birth flower with an initial?
Yes. lulu + belle's initial + birthstone necklaces pair an engraved initial disc with genuine turquoise for December, and the holly birth flower necklace can be engraved on the back with up to eight characters.
How do I make a December birthday feel separate from Christmas?
Give it on the birthday itself, in its own box, with a card that names only the birthday, and choose a piece she'll wear all year, such as a lulu + belle turquoise or holly necklace.
What's a meaningful December birthday gift on a budget?
At lulu + belle, the Dainty Birthstone Pendant in genuine turquoise is €45, and turquoise stud earrings start at €55.
Does lulu + belle jewellery come in a gift box?
Yes. Every lulu + belle order comes in a gift box as standard, and an optional gift bag and gift note can be added for €4.
How long do personalised pieces take?
lulu + belle personalised jewellery is made to order and dispatched within 2 working days.
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