Turquoise is fairly soft-it ranks 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Porosity and texture don’t just affect appearance: They also affect durability. Turquoise with a less-dense crystal structure has higher porosity and coarser texture, resulting in a dull luster when it’s polished. Fine-textured turquoise has an attractive, waxy luster when it’s polished. If the crystals are packed closely together, the material is less porous, so it has a finer texture. It’s an aggregate of microscopic crystals that form a solid mass. Turquoise owes its texture to its structure and composition.

People interested in Native American arts and crafts frequently collect this stylized silver jewelry. Turquoise VarietiesĪlthough much turquoise jewelry is sleek and modern, many US consumers are familiar with the traditional jewelry of Native American peoples such as the Pueblo, Hopi, Zuni, and Navajo. So, quite often, you’ll hear people in the trade call turquoise of this beautiful color “Persian blue,” whether or not it was actually mined in Iran. The traditional source for the top color, sometimes described as robin’s-egg blue or sky blue, is the Nishapur district of Iran, the country formerly known as Persia. People value turquoise highly for its combination of ancient heritage and unforgettable color. Turquoise color can range from dull greens to grass greens to a bright, medium-toned, sky blue. Turquoise is found in only a few places on earth: dry and barren regions where acidic, copper-rich groundwater seeps downward and reacts with minerals that contain phosphorus and aluminum. The biggest and most permanent market is in the American Southwest. Its popularity in the mainstream jewelry industry comes and goes usually driven by jewelry designers. It’s used for beads, cabochons, carvings, and inlays. Turquoise is plentiful and available in a wide range of sizes. The Apaches believed that turquoise increased a hunter’s or warrior’s accuracy if attached to a bow or firearm. They also used it in their jewelry and amulets. Turquoise was a ceremonial gem and use as a form of currency for Native American tribes in the southwestern US. The gem’s name comes from the French expression pierre tourques, or “Turkish stone.” The name, which originated in the thirteenth century, reflects the fact that the material probably first arrived in Europe from Turkey. Turquoise has long been considered a stone that guarantees health, good fortune, and protection from evil. Archaeological excavations uncovered the fact that the rulers of ancient Egypt adorned themselves with turquoise jewelry, and the Chinese artisans were carving it over 3,000 years ago. Turquoise is one of the world’s earliest appreciated gemstones. Keep reading to learn more about turquoise. It has become more popular recently for its color and durability, and the fact that no two stones are alike.Īt Brittany’s Fine Jewelry in Gainesville FL, we have a wide selection of turquoise jewelry and see firsthand the beauty of these stones. Turquoise is a beautiful and versatile gemstone that has been valued for centuries for its unique color and qualities.

Gem quality turquoise