Turquoise

Turquoise

Turquoise is found in many countries, but is most commonly associated with the Southwest US, China, and Iran, which is home to some of the finest quality Turquoise. First mined on the Sinai Peninsula (part of modern Israel) and transported to Western Europe through Turkey, Turquoise got its' name from Europeans who mistaken thought that it was found in Turkey. The name comes from the medieval French word for Turkish, "turqueise."
Much older than Native American civilizations with whom the stone is most commonly associated, Turquoise was used in ancient Egypt, ancient Eastern and ancient Middle Eastern civilizations. When the tomb of Queen Zer was found in the early 1900's, she was discovered adorned with Turquoise beads and bracelets. Having died over 5500 years ago, this Turquoise jewelry is some of the oldest documented.
In the 13th Century it was believed that Turquoise could protect one from becoming injured after falling form a horse. It was also believed to protect the horse itself, and so was commonly used to adorn the horse bridles.
The book of Exodus also refers to our long love-affair with this stone. The Breastplate of Aaron the Hebrew High Priest, was a ceremonial religious garment set with 12 stones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Turquoise was one of the stones on this garment. These twelve stones were the original birthstones, with Turquoise assigned to December.
Turquoise, like most stones, has a wide range of color and quality. It ranges from a deep sky blue or Robin's Egg Blue to green, yellowish green, and brown. While the bluest stones with the least webbing are usually the highest valued, individual taste will rank stones differently. Some prefer the stone to be blue with dark thick veins setting off the color of the stone; others prefer green with thin lines, reminiscent of webbing; still others prefer the earthy tones, lime green and earthen brown.
Because Turquoise is formed through the oxidation of Copper and Iron it is a relatively porous stone that should be carefully cleaned. Clean the stone with soap and warm water only.