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Turquoise Jewelry
Author: Shelia Foster
Turquoise is
the birthstone of December and also it is traditionally considered
the anniversary gemstone for the 11th year of marriage.
Chemically, a
hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, turquoise is formed when
meteoric material or groundwater percolates through aluminous rock in
the presence of copper. For this reason, it is often associated with
copper deposits as a secondary mineral, most often in copper deposits
in arid, semiarid, or desert environments. It consists of a phosphate
of aluminum, colored by copper and traces of iron. Some gemologists
believe that the beautiful blue color is produced by a complex ion
formed by copper and ammonium. The finest colored material is mined
and worked in Iran; its colors range from the highly desirable sky
blue to a bluish green.
History
Turquoise,
also known as the robin's egg blue gemstone worn by Pharaohs and
Aztec Kings, is probably one of the oldest gemstones known. Its blue
color is so distinctive that the name is used to describe any color
that resembles it. That is why it is used as a gemstone.
Since about
200 B.C., Turquoise has been extensively used by both southwestern
U.S Native Americans and by many of the Indian tribes in Mexico. The
Native American Jewelry or "Indian style" jewelry with
turquoise mounted in or with silver is relatively new. Some believe
this style of jewelry was unknown prior to about 1880, when a white
trader persuaded a Navajo craftsman to make turquoise and silver
jewelry using coin silver. Prior to this time, the Native Americans
had made solid turquoise beads, carvings, and inlaid mosaics.
Today,
turquoise has found wide acceptance among people of all walks of life
and from many different ethnic groups. The name turquoise may have
come from the word Turquie, French for Turkey, because of the early
belief that the mineral came from that country (the turquoise most
likely came from the Alimersai Mountain region in Persia, now Iran or
the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, two of the world's oldest known
turquoise mining areas.). Another possibility could be the name came
from the French description of the gemstone, "pierre
turquin" meaning dark blue stone.
For thousands
of years the finest intense blue turquoise in the world was found in
Persia, and the term "Persian Turquoise" became synonymous
with the finest quality. This changed during the late 1800's and
early 1900's when modern miners discovered or rediscovered
significant deposits of high-quality turquoise in the western and
Southwestern United States. Material from many of these deposits was
just as fine as the finest "Persian. “Today, the term
"Persian Turquoise" is more often a definition of quality
than a statement of origin, and the majority of the world's
finest-quality turquoise comes from the United States, the largest
producer of turquoise.
Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise
jewelry is high in fashion now for its natural colors and elegance.
It's also highly collectible and grows in value over time. One can
find a brilliant selection of Turquoise jewelry in both traditional
and contemporary styles to match every taste. There is everything
Turquoise Concho Belts, Turquoise Earrings, Turquoise Bracelets,
Turquoise Rings, Hair Jewelry, Turquoise Necklaces, Turquoise
Watches, including Turquoise Belt Buckles and Bolo Ties. You can't go
wrong with a one of a kind hand made piece of Turquoise jewelry. |
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