Turquoise - An Attractive Gemstone

Turquoise is semi-precious stone that is primarily a hydrous salts of copper and aluminum. The characteristic blue color comes from its copper content. Secondary minerals within the matrix of this mineral can also influence the color of the stone. Aluminum gives the stone shades of green. The presence of trace amounts of zinc can change the stone color to yellow. From the first discovery of this stone in the Sinai some six thousand years ago, to contemporary and traditional Southwestern inlay jewelry, this beautiful blue gemstone has captured the imagination of jewelry designers, and hearts of jewelry wearers around the globe. Its popularity is on the rise today, and fashion magazines often cover new designs and trends in turquoise jewelry. Turquoise can brighten up an outfit – any outfit – like no other gemstone can! When properly cut and polished, and framed in silver settings silver turquoise pendants or earrings stand head and shoulders above all other jewelry. Most of the turquoise on the market today is stabilized using either epoxy resin or vaporized silica. The process makes the stone more resilient and reduces its porosity without sacrificing any of its beauty. Gemologists and jewelers today consider stabilized turquoise to be genuine turquoise. High quality turquoise that can be used in jewelry without stabilization is much sought-after and rare. If you want natural untreated turquoise jewelry, be prepared to pay the price. Less than five percent of the world’s production is good enough to be used in its natural form, and as a result, prices are exorbitant.

The Importance of Turquoise in Jewelry

When turquoise was first discovered during the first dynasty of Egypt over 6000 years ago, the Egyptians appreciated the importance of this beautiful blue gemstone. They held it in high reverence and only allowed people of high standing to own it. But even they could not have imagined how important this stone would eventually become! Today, turquoise is the most sought-after opaque gemstone for jewelry making. The Egyptians were not the only ones to notice this stone. Philosophers Aristotle and Pliny mention this gemstone in their works, and Marco Polo wrote about turquoise in the accounts of his world travels. During those times, turquoise was probably the most expensive gemstone as well. That has changed drastically today, and turquoise is less expensive than rubies and sapphires and several other precious stones. Historically, the demand for turquoise has risen and fallen with the changes in tastes and trends in the worlds of fine and fashion jewelry. However, current trends suggest that the popularity of turquoise in jewelry will continue for a long time. Turquoise is one of the few gemstones that are used in jewelry for women and men. Silver turquoise pendants with colorful and intricate inlays are particularly popular items for women’s jewelry. Turquoise belt buckles, bolo ties, and money clips are common items for men, especially in the West.

Turquoise - Separating the Wheat from the Chaff (Fake vs. Real)

Turquoise is a much coveted gemstone for jewelry all over the world. The best quality turquoise comes from Iran. Specimens from this country are often of such high quality that they can be used in jewelry with only cutting and polishing. Turquoise from most other sources must be stabilized with epoxy resin or vaporized silica. Stabilized turquoise is considered to be genuine turquoise. Because of the high demand for this gemstone, a few unethical sellers have resorted to selling fake turquoise. Here are a few tips to help you distinguish genuine turquoise from fake turquoise. Over the years, sellers have been passing off a variety of materials as “turquoise”. These include ceramics, bone, color-enhanced minerals, and more recently, celluloid and plastic. As the first step, only buy turquoise from reputed dealers that you trust. Even then, ask them to provide written documentation stating its authenticity. The bright blue color should be uniform throughout the stone. An experienced gemologist can identify identify fakes under magnification strengths of 30X to 50X. Plastic fakes weigh much less than natural stone. Look into the hole drilled in the stone. If you see white, it is probably an imitation. Touch a heated pin or needle to an inconspicuous part of the "stone". If the needle goes through, it means that the “stone” is most likely a plastic. Various forms of calcium carbonate are sometimes dyed and passed off as turquoise. Add a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid. If the surface fizzes, it is probably fake.

Turquoise Mining Today

Turquoise is an opaque sky blue gemstone that is exceedingly popular for fine and fashion jewelry today. The United States is the largest producer of turquoise in the world today. The turquoise deposits in the US are primarily located in the Southwest in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado. Nevada boasts of having over one thousand active turquoise mines. The mines in Arizona though provide much better quality turquoise than specimens from Nevada. In Arizona, the mines in Bisbee and Kingman are particularly famous for the gem quality turquoise that is found here. The first commercial mining of turquoise in the US was undertaken in the town of Cerritos near Santa Fe in New Mexico. Today, New Mexico and Colorado are relatively small players in the world production of turquoise. In general, the best quality turquoise comes from mines in Iran. Stones from the Iranian mines are consistently of the highest quality, and require little more than cutting and polishing before being used in jewelry. The first discoveries of turquoise were made in the Sinai by ancient Egyptians. This happened over six thousand years ago. Today, there are few operating commercial mines left in Egypt. Turquoise is also found in a few other countries including Australia, China, and Peru. However, the amount of stone mined here is quite small, and the quality is not particularly good.

Turquoise Jewelry from the American Southwest

Turquoise is primarily comprised of hydrated phosphates copper and aluminum. It is typically found in desert areas with low rain fall and since copper is a key ingredient for turquoise, it is usually in the vicinity of known copper ore deposits. The Southwestern states of Arizona and Nevada are the primary producers of turquoise in the United States. Although the first turquoise mining occurred near Cerritos, New Mexico, this state today has been relegated to a secondary producer of this mineral. Colorado is also a minor producer of turquoise. The best specimens of this beautiful blue gemstone are found in the Kingman and Bisbee mines in Arizona. Volume wise, Nevada is the largest producer of the turquoise in the US, although the quality of the specimens from Nevada is not as good as those from Arizona. Records suggest Native Americans first discovered turquoise nearly a thousand years ago, and were trading this gemstone with tribes in present day Mexico nearly six hundred years ago. Turquoise jewelry from the Southwest is very popular with jewelry fans the world over. The skills, designs, and products from artists here have come a long way since the early days of turquoise jewelry when nuggets were strung together to form necklaces and bracelets. Today, Southwestern artists design and create some stunning sterling silver turquoise pendants with colorful inlays of a variety of gemstones found in the southwest. Artists from each tribe such as the Hopi, Navajo and Zuni use patterns and motifs that reflect their own traditions and beliefs.

The Legend of Turquoise

Ever since turquoise was discovered nearly six thousand years ago, its story has been one of legend and folklore. The Egyptians who discovered this stone were so mesmerized by it that they decreed that only royalty and high priests were allowed to won turquoise. They used it to decorate their palaces and temples. The famous funereal mask of King Tutankhamen has some intricate turquoise inlays. When the Native Americans first found this stone near Cerritos, New Mexico about a thousand years ago, they too developed a deep reverence and respect for it. They believed – and continue to believe – that since its color is similar to that of the sky, and the stone is found just beneath the earth’s surface, turquoise represents the coming together of heaven and earth. With this background, it is not surprising that they included turquoise in their religious rites and ceremonies. Native Americans were not the only civilizations that believed in the divine properties of this stone. Other ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs and the Incas also held this stone in high esteem. Tribes on the North American continent believed that turquoise was a protective stone and a symbol of male power. So brave warriors were honored by being allowed to wear turquoise into battle. One of the more interesting tales about turquoise lies is that some believe that if the stone changes color, the wearer was probably unfaithful! Of course, there is little truth to that belief. The fact of the matter is that turquoise is a porous stone and can absorb moisture and oils from the skin when worn. The absorption of these materials causes the color of the stone to change slightly.

Some Useful Information About Turquoise

Turquoise is a deep blue to bluish-green opaque gemstone that has a characteristic darker dendritic pattern. Chemically, it is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, with lesser amounts of other minerals and metals. Its sky blue color has made it a popular choice for use in pendants, earrings, and other turquoise jewelry. When it comes to jewelry designs with turquoise, the most popular themes are motifs created by native American artisans in the Southwestern United States. Today, turquoise jewelry is available for both men and women. The blue color of this stone stands out, but is yet sober enough to be used in jewelry for men and women. Turquoise jewelry for women is well known. Turquoise rings are popular for men. They can be used to enhance the man’s appearance, and draw attention to yourself. Turquoise cuff bracelets and bolo ties are also popular accessories for men, especially in the West and Southwest. Turquoise is a relatively soft and fragile stone and requires careful maintenance and attention. Jewelry should be individually wrapped in soft cloth and stored in soft cloth bags. To the extent practical turquoise should be kept away from cosmetics, perfumes, and other sprays.