A Brief History of Turquoise Jewelry

Turquoise was one of the very first gems to be mined.  The name is French, and may have arisen from the misconception that turquoise originated in Turkey.  However, the name also means “dark blue stone,” which more accurately describes the gem.  It is a brilliant blue-green color that is very pleasing to the eye.  It is no wonder that turquoise jewelry is so beloved.

For years, turquoise was coveted because of its beautiful hue.   The finer grades are hard to come by, and as such, are quite valuable.  However, like many other opaque gemstones, turquoise has decreased in value in recent years, largely due to realistic looking synthetics that have been developed.  The first artificial turquoise was produced in Egypt.

Many turquoise mines have been depleted over the decades, but it can still be found in some south-western United States like Arizona and California, and in some Middle Eastern countries such as Iran.  It was used to fashion jewelry back in ancient times, as well as being included in mosaic artwork and in religious ceremonial objects.  In the West, it gained popularity in the 14th century.  It was already being used for jewelry in other parts of the world prior to that time.

It was common belief that turquoise possessed healing properties.  Many civilizations believed that it had protective elements, and that its color would change according to the health of the person who came into contact with it. 

These days, the jewelry is worn simply because it looks pretty.  In the West, it is most commonly seen in rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.  There are two common designs.  The first is reminiscent of Native American style jewelry.  The second is large, beaded chunks of turquoise strung together to fashion necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Turquoise can come in a variety of hues, ranging from blue to green.  Sometimes it can even be a yellowish color, or a mint green shade.  However, the classic blue-green hue still remains the most popular for jewelry.  In the United States, it is sometimes even enhanced to look a certain way.  Turquoise is not as durable as some types of gemstones, as it only has a hardness of 5-6.  However, with proper care, it can last for a long time.

Turquoise jewelry was very popular a few decades ago.  Most trends seem to repeat themselves after a period of time, and turquoise jewelry is no exception.  It is now becoming more abundant on store shelves, and more and more people can be seen wearing it.  It makes sense that it should be so popular, as the gemstone looks like no other.  Its gorgeous coloring makes it stand out, and makes any jewelry look beautiful.

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