Turquoise

In many cultures of the Old and New Worlds, Turquoise has been as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune, or a talisman. It was used for beads by the Egyptians as early as 5500 B.C., and is probably the oldest gemstone known to have been extracted from the ground on a large scale (it was mined by slaves of the Egyptian Pharaohs by about 3200 BC.).

History: Turquoise is a French term meaning Turkish Stone.  It comes from the French phrase pierre turquoise, where "pierre" translates as "stone."  It was believed, inaccurately, that turquoise came from Turkey.  While much turquoise was traded in Turkey, the items bought and sold probably originated in Iran or the Sinai Peninsula.  The turquoise that first arrived in Europe was probably obtained in Turkish bazaars by Venetian traders.  "Turquoise" is thus a misnomer.

Gemology Facts: The blue color of Turquoise is created by copper, the green by bivalent iron and a certain amount of chrome. Often, the material has veins of other stones running thought it, ranging in color from brown to gray to black.. These lively, more or less regular patterns are known as 'turquoise matrix' and often forms a pattern called "spiderwebs." As a jewelry designer, I believe these matrices create turquoise jewelry that is far more interesting than many of the matrix-less options.

Metaphysical: At all times and over the world, turquoise jewelry has been worn as natural protection against the powers of darkness, a harbinger of good fortune, success and health. It was believed to ward off the evil eye, and to prevent falls. Aztecs and Egyptians considered it a symbol of prosperity. In India, one was to wear a turquoise jewelry on the little finger and look at the stone after seeing the new moon to gain great wealth. According to American Indians, the stone brought together the spirits of sea and sky to bless warriors and hunters.