Gemstones - Turquoise

Turquoise is called a 'gemstone of the peoples' in the early world. The oldest piece of evidence was found in Egypt where grave furnishings with Turquoise inlay were discovered. These furnishings has been dating from approx. 3000 BC.

In ancient Persia, Turquoise was worn round the neck or wrist for protection against unnatural death. If the Turquoise changed color, the wearer thought to have a reason to fear the approach of death.

The Aztecs in Mexico used to decorate their ceremonial masks with this stone which was holy according to their beliefs. The Indians of North America believe that Turquoise opens up a direct connection between the sky and the sea.

Other beliefs for wearing Turquoise, when worn in earlier times they preserved horse and rider from unexpected falls. Even today, Turquoise is a protective stone of pilots, air crews and other occupational groups who are exposed to an especially high degree of risk.

Turquoise cheerful color is said to endow reticent personalities with more confidence. It is also often given as a gift, a stone of friendship, for the Turquoise is said to be responsible for faithfulness and constancy in relationships.

Turquoise occurs in a range of hues from sky blue to greyish green, and found in places where there is a high concentration of copper in the soil. The best quality Turquoises are a pure, radiant sky blue, with or without the matrix. The more the color tends toward green and the more blotchy and more irregular the matrix, the lower the estimate of the stone's quality.

The Turquoise blue color is created by copper, the green by bivalent iron and a certain amount of chrome. Turquoise can change color, but the change is caused by the light, or by a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin.

The "veins" or blotches running through Turquoise is known as the 'Turquoise matrix'.

The most beautiful Turquoises, in a splendid light blue, come from deposits in the north of Iran.

Turquoise is rarely faceted. Usually, it is cut into cabochons or beads, or into some more imaginative shape.

Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate with a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale.

Turquoise are relatively sensitive and the color may change to a slightly paler blue when the stone has been worn for a long time. Even high-quality stones need to be stabilized. Today, Turquoise is treated with wax to the sensitive gemstone more resistant. There is a large number of Turquoise on the market that has been sealed with synthetic resin.

Turquoise are almost always subjected to a treatment of one kind or another. Turquoise which have a good natural color and are simply hardened with colorless wax or synthetic resin will have a much higher value than stones whose color has been improved. Improved Turquoise is dipped in a coloring medium before being subjected to durability treatment

There is also a 'reconstructed' Turquoise, which is made from pulverized Turquoise.

Turquoise should be protected from cosmetics, heat and bright light. It is not a gemstone to take with you when you go sunbathing. It is best to give it a clean from time to time with a soft cloth.