Turquoise

Throughout time, turquoise has been thought of as a stone with magical properties and ancient folklore tells us that the stone can bring about good luck in matters of health, money and romance. Once the stone has been unearthed and is exposed to the atmosphere, it will change colors as it dries. As it is worn and touched, it will absorb body oils and exhibit further changes in coloration. This changing of colors was a primary reason that turquoise was and still is considered to have magical and mystical properties. Many of the indigenous Southwestern Native American Indian tribes believe that the sacred gem has great healing powers and will promote good luck in matters of security and family.

The earliest turquoise mines can be traced back to as early as 3500 B.C. with Egypt's Sinai Mines which provided stones for mosaics and the personal adornment of ancient Egyptian kings. The stone was later introduced to medieval Europe by Turkish traders. In the Western Hemisphere, the Aztec Indian tribes had discovered the stone as early as 1000 B. C. and turquoise artifacts have been found in central Mexico and the Andes Mountains dating back to this period.

Depending upon its point of origin, the beautiful gem can exhibit a surprising range of colors. A very appealing sky blue color is quite common and widely popular in today's Southwestern and Native American jewelry markets. Dark blue to greenish to greenish blue colors are also quite common. The distinctive Mojave Green is a common example of the more greenish coloration of the gemstone. The veining (often called matrix) in the stone can be seen as black or brownish streaks running through it. Not all forms have matrix. Some of the most beautiful and highest quality examples have no matrix at all and exhibit a consistent and clear coloration. A good example of this matrix free stone is the Sleeping Beauty variety mined in Arizona.

The Southwestern region of the United States is rich and plentiful in the different types of turquoise being used in the crafting of Native American sterling silver jewelry. The majority of this stone is supplied by the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. My personal favorites are the Santa Rita from New Mexico, the Cripple Creek from Colorado, the Sleeping Beauty and Kingman from Arizona and the Lander Blue and Royston from Nevada. Whatever your favorites might be, you can rest assured that when you purchase turquoise jewelry, you are making an investment in timeless quality and beauty.

Having lived most of my adult life in New Mexico, I have had years of exposure to the many beautiful examples of Native American turquoise silver jewelry items such as cuff bracelets, silver pendants and southwestern earrings handcrafted by Navajo, Zuni and Hopi artisans. If you ever have the opportunity to visit New Mexico, be sure and make time to visit Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos and Gallup. You will definitely enjoy the experience and will gain extensive knowledge of how this unique gemstone has been such an important part of our culture and folklore. Opportunities are abundant to see actual tribal silversmiths create their traditional and contemporary turquoise jewelry designs from start to finish. The creative talents of these indigenous people have been passed down through many generations of experience and technique. Designs and techniques have certainly varied from generation to generation but the magical stone has maintained its distinctive and unique appeal and will do so for many years to come.