All about Turquoise!

•What is turquoise?
Turquoise is a completely opaque, blue to bluish-green mineral made of aluminum and copper that is extremely popular for setting in sterling silver and has long been associated with Native American jewelry. Turquoise is used as the December birthstone and is the commemorative gemstone for the 11th wedding anniversary.

•Where is turquoise found?
The finest turquoise is found in Iran, where it has been mined since 1000 BC. Turquoise of varying colors and qualities is also found in Mexico, China, on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt; in Russia, Chile, Australia, England; and the southwest United States, especially New Mexico and Arizona. Currently, the southwest U. S. is the world’s largest source for turquoise.

•Color
Turquoise occurs in shades of blue, with deep, vivid blue being the most popular, as well as the rarest. Turquoise also occurs in shades of blue-green to a completely green variety.

•Shape
Turquoise is cut into cabochons (one of its most popular uses), fashioned and polished into beads of varying shapes, and also used for cameos. Because of its opaque nature (meaning light cannot penetrate the stone and disperse through facets as it does in translucent and transparent stones), turquoise is rarely cut into the faceted gemstone shapes.

•Durability
Turquoise is only a 6 on the Mohs Scale and is, therefore, not as durable as harder stones. Turquoise is susceptible to being chipped or cracked during wear, so care should be exercised when wearing turquoise jewelry (especially rings). Also, turquoise should not be boiled or subjected to excessive heat changes. Turquoise’s opaque nature means that it is usually set into bezels which do serve to protect it against damage, but be cautious nonetheless.

•Quality
The highest quality turquoise is a deep blue color with no surface marks or off-color areas. The opaque nature of turquoise eliminates the possibility of grading the stone by its internal inclusions, so color (blue is the more valuable) and surface perfection are the criteria by which high quality turquoise is judged.

•Legend and lore
Turquoise has long been used by Native Americans for assuring good fortune. Wearing turquoise can also shift one’s emotional center towards love and enhance the wearer’s feeling of “oneness” and unity with other people.

•Care
Do not clean your turquoise with anything other than mild soap and water. Do not soak it in the solution, though; wet a cloth, wash the piece, and then rinse it well. Polishing the stone (and its sterling silver mountings) with a soft jeweler’s rouge cloth will also keep it looking bright and clean.