Turquoise jewelry Rich in Color, Rich in History
Recently, at a new age event about the meaning of certain crystals, minerals and stones I met a woman who believed in all the powers of naturally found gemstones. She was about 60 years-old, and she told me she studied gemology in Arizona and Switzerland for a total of 25 years. She wore a flowing purple and fuchsia dress and she wore a large light blue turquoise stone around her neck. I asked her what stone she wore and she was very happy to inform me about the significance of her turquoise jewelry. Her name was Lydia.
Lydia explained the name turquoise is said to come from the French word Turquie for Turkey, due to an early belief the stone originated from Turkey. The other idea is that "pierre turquin," in French means dark blue gemstone. The color of the turquoise stone is so unique; its name is used to describe any color that represents it. She also went into great detail about the history of the stone. How turquoise has been made into jewelry since 5500 B.C., with the earliest findings of turquoise as beads as well as a turquoise bracelet discovered in a tomb on the arm of an ancient Egyptian queen! Lydia explained that turquoise jewelry's long symbolic history is celebrated in many cultures, sometimes holding the same meanings even if discovered on different continents.
Often characterized with modern Native American jewelry and art, American Indians believed it provided strength and prosperity. Arrowheads were made of turquoise thought to improve aim accuracy. The natives also believed it held powers of the sea and sky and protected the hunters who wore it.
She told me many archeological findings suggest turquoise was commonly used in trade. The Aztecs, believed it to be more valuable than gold and they would carve holes in the enamel of their teeth and insert pieces of turquoise for decoration. The ancient Egyptians felt turquoise symbolized prosperity and they adorned their shields, harnesses and animals with turquoise which provided protection as well as embellishment.
As she was explaining all of these fascinating details, I kept looking at her necklace and wondering what story her necklace told? Where did her necklace come from? Lydia said that during the mid 1800s English travelers brought turquoise jewelry back from Asia and it became a part of the Victorian Nouveau art and popular in jewelry styles at the time. I came up with two different images in my head at that idea: a native woman sewing turquoise into her moccasins, and a Victorian woman walking a baby buggy with a turquoise gemstone on her neck. I told her I thought more about turquoise symbolic of native art and jewelry. Lydia explained that turquoise jewelry came in many styles and colors and it was not likely to be the same color or style of turquoise as one from the native southwest.
Lydia explained that turquoise comes in many different shades and colors depending on where the stone is mined from. Turquoise is most often found in arid desert areas, many times in correlation with copper mines. In America, it has been found in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and California. American and Mexican turquoise is light blue to blue-green, Egyptian turquoise is more of a yellow-green, to greenish-blue and turquoise found in Iran is a robin's egg blue.
She went on to say there are natural designs in turquoise stones, one specific design is called spider's web because of the distinct veins of limonite lined throughout the piece. She held up her necklace. Yes, sure enough, the limonite in her necklace was like a dark brown branch spreading throughout the blue-green stone. The most valuable form of turquoise is "Persian turquoise", from Iran, (Persia) because the purity of the turquoise from there does not contain any limonite veins. Not surprisingly, she said, the national gemstone of Iran is turquoise.
Lydia said because she was born in December, she owned a lot of turquoise jewelry. As turquoise is the birthstone for December and she also said turquoise is also a special gift, given on the 11th year of one's marriage. Wow, I said, I had no idea about special gifts for each year you are married, let alone turquoise was number 11! I asked what she thought about modern fashion's use of turquoise.
Lydia thought that turquoise, together with silver is more of a modern combination commonly found as necklaces, bracelets and ankle bracelets , , rings, toe rings ,
About the Author
About the Author: Melissa Peterman is a web content specialist for Innuity. For more information about turquoise jewelry, toe rings , ankle bracelets
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