What Makes Turquoise Special For Thousands Of Years?

Turquoise is a rare gemstone found in select regions of the Earth, typically in dry and barren areas where acidic, copper-rich groundwater interacts with minerals containing phosphorus and aluminum. The resulting sedimentary process forms a porous, semitranslucent to opaque compound of hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate.

Despite lacking the sparkle and clarity of transparent gemstones like ruby, emerald, and sapphire, turquoise remains highly desirable due to its multi-layered history and soul-satisfying color. Its hues can range from dull greens to grass greens and bright, medium-toned sky blue.

Exquisite Turquoise Bracelet With Diamonds

Notably, the top-quality turquoise—often referred to as ‘Persian blue’—originates from the Nishapur district in Iran, although it may not always be mined there. Designers frequently use top-quality turquoise to create elegant jewelry, primarily cutting it into cabochons or beads for inlays.

Exotic Turquoise Brooch

While sleek and modern turquoise jewelry is popular, traditional Native American silver jewelry, crafted by peoples such as the Pueblo, Hopi, Zuni, and Navajo, also features prominently. Turquoise’s relatively soft texture makes it ideal for carving, and artists worldwide use it for talismans and art objects.

Turquoise Earrings

Texture plays a crucial role in turquoise’s appearance and durability. Fine-textured turquoise exhibits an attractive, waxy luster when polished, while coarser textures result in a duller finish. Low porosity and fine texture enhance value, whereas coarse, porous stones are often treated for better marketability. Turquoise deposits typically form in iron-rich limonite or sandstone, with matrix markings—remnants of the host rock—sometimes visible.

Dark lines, or matrix, criss crossing a turquoise

When shopping for turquoise jewellery, make sure that the colour is a vibrant blue, and depending on your preferences, you can opt for those with no matrix, or those with matrix criss crossing the gem. As there are many imitation turquoise made of other materials such as plastic, it is best to purchase from a reputable jewellery retailer or designer. Alternatively, for more valuable turquoise, you should request for a gem certificate from a reputable gem lab to certify that the turquoise is natural.