Turquoise is derived from the word Turkish – Turquoise was frequently traded in the bazaars in Turkey in the 16th Century, although it is a misconception that there was wealth of turquoise in Turkey itself.This opaque gemstone is composed of copper and iron, and ranges in color from moss-green to duck-egg blue depending on the relative quantities of copper and iron. The bluer the turquoise the greater the ratio of copper to iron; the greener the turquoise the greater the ratio of iron to copper.
Turquoise has played a big part in the culture and costumes of many great civilizations, both New and Old World, some extant some extinct: The Aztecs, Ancient Egyptians, Tibetans, and Native Americans, to name a few.
Clearly there is something universally enchanting about turquoise that has made it consistently desirable across time and space. There is an unearthly quality about turquoise that leads Tibetans to believe turquoise is not a stone but rather a piece of the heavens.
In AD 900, in the Maya city of Chichen Itza, the Mayans used turquoise for mosaics. A fellow New World civilization, the Aztecs, used turquoise for religious objects such as the Mask of Tezcatlipoca, an important deity of the Aztec pantheon.
In Ad-Saharan Africa, the Ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor was alternatively know as The Lady of Turquoise and The Mistress of Turquoise.
The otherworldly appeal of turquoise is undeniable; perhaps for its strange, enchanting paradox of being both blue and green. And neither. You could stare at a piece of turquoise and wait eternally for either of its composite colors to dominate or come into focus. They never will.
In modern times, turquoise is possibly a symbol of the natural world, a reminder of a more pastoral existence, when the glittering seas and wide, achingly beautiful skies were more pertinent to our philosophies than to now, when our attentions are compelled towards the quotidian greyness of our industrial and post-industrial worlds.Some of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry [jewellery] are made from combinations of turquoise with red coral. Not only is this a visually-pleasing marriage of gemstones, but it is also conceptually intriguing: The coolness of blue turquoise offsets the fieriness of the red coral. Likewise, turquoise is often associated with the sky and coral with the sea.
From the spiritual properties of turquoise, we turn to its scientific properties: On the Mohs scale the hardness of turquoise falls somewhere between five and six. This makes it just harder than window glass and softer than amethyst or diamond. For this reason, turquoise should be prevented from clashing against harder stones such as the aforesaid amethyst or diamond.
Turquoise is a companion. Those who acquire an item of turquoise jewelry [turquoise jewellery] will keep it for many years, for turquoise – full of idiosyncratic characteristics – becomes part of its owner’s identity, an extension of their own uniqueness.
Turquoise, indeed, will last a lifetime, and maintain its enchanting colour, when given a little care. You may find jewelry care (jewellery care) information elsewhere that advises the use of water to clean turquoise – we disagree. Turquoise is porous so care should be taken to avoid your turquoise coming into contact with liquids such as water and especially soaps and oils. Allowing your turquoise to absorb liquids or oils may cause discolouration.
If your turquoise becomes tarnished, a soft, dry cloth – preferably a silver cloth – will be sufficient for cleaning. When you are not wearing your turquoise jewelry [turquoise jewellery], store it in a box or soft pouch and keep it in a cool place, away from sunlight wherever possible.
