When you buy a piece of jewelry and wear it, you are making a personal fashion statement. From big chunky bracelets to delicate chains with pendants, jewelry has an almost endless variety of materials and designs to choose from, when defining your style. The combination of metals, leather, stones, and other resources used to make popular adornments means that there’s something for every jewelry lover.
So often, sentimental quality jewelry is passed down to family members and loved ones. As particular styles come and go in the fashion world, it is sometimes true that “Everything old is new again”.
Jewelry is no exception to this rule and, as evidence, look no further than Turquoise jewelry.
Turquoise Jewelry is Fashion Forward
Turquoise never really goes out of style and is enjoying a fashion resurgence currently. With the natural beauty of blue and green hues, the stone now has some serious fashion competition with the lustrous colors of spiny turquoise. But, why settle for just one? With so many colors available and the affordability of turquoise jewelry, you have the option to buy several colors and switch out your stones regularly depending on your outfit or your mood.
Turquoise is especially stunning when used to inlay designs on various forms of jewelry. Bangle bracelets and eternity rings are great examples of these designs. If inlaid jewelry is not your style, consider a simple pendant or even a collar made from a collection of stones. Along with different colors and techniques popular styles according to custom are available in appreciation of the cultural aspects of turquoise jewelry from indigenous people in regional areas.
An Inside Look Into The Mining of Turquoise
Turquoise is mined in several countries including the USA. Also contributing to the world’s turquoise supply are Canada, Mexico, and Iraq, along with a few other locations. Most of the work in mining turquoise is done with hand tools rather than heavy equipment to prevent damaging the delicate stones.
Although pneumatic drills are often used to break up hard rock formations to initially get to the turquoise, most of this backbreaking job is done by hand with shovels and pickaxes. Much like panning for gold, turquoise miners utilize sluice boxes with running water to wash away the dirt and debris leaving the turquoise behind.
History of Decorative Turquoise
Throughout history, turquoise has held a fascination for jewelry and other decorative uses. It has been recorded that the earliest mention of Turquoise being used in jewelry was from the Egyptian period. Egypt is home to the oldest turquoise mines located in the Sinai Peninsula. Egyptians referred to turquoise as mefkat, meaning joy and delight.
Turquoise was also discovered when excavations were made to the tombs in Egypt, and the pieces were dated to be around 3000 BC. The mask of King Tutankhamun was made up of gold and inlaid with glass and stones, with some of those stones being turquoise. This means that accessorizing with turquoise has been popular for a long time and is still very popular today.
Turquoise, Now and Then
The beauty of turquoise has been recognized all over the globe for thousands of years and is likely to remain a favorite of stone lovers for thousands more. Natural stones are special gifts from the earth and turquoise is at the top of so many creations in today’s popular jewelry trends. Genuine turquoise jewelry comes in a range of colors due to the stones being color-treated and sometimes heated to increase durability and hardness. The original bluish-green stone that is popular with so many enthusiasts is not the only color available currently. There is a whole range of colors available in greens, blues, pinks, and even purples that are visually striking and will make beautiful additions to your collection.
Along with genuine turquoise, there are also composites consisting of other natural materials combined with genuine turquoise to form what is called spiny turquoise. These stones are visually striking in color with their brilliant hues and lustrous finishes. Spiny turquoise mixes spiny oyster shells that have been cut into small pieces with cut pieces of turquoise. These pieces are fitted into a form filled with a special fixative and polished to a high shine. Like any natural stone these stones are one of a kind and with proper care are made to last.
Care and Durability
From 3000 BC to the present turquoise has been used in many different countries, religions, and cultures and has maintained popularity in jewelry worldwide. Turquoise depending on where it was mined has a natural hardness score of 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. The very finest turquoise mined will come in at just under a 6. For reference, the hardest stone on the scale would be a diamond with a Mohs score of 10, while in comparison talc, which scores a 1 on the chart. This rating puts turquoise and how hard it is at roughly the middle of the pack.
Remember whenever you are putting on lotions and perfumes, or cleaning, remove your turquoise first to avoid damaging the luster with harsh chemicals or solvents. Turquoise is a relatively soft stone on the Mohs scale and taking the steps to protect your turquoise jewelry is a smart way to keep this beautiful stone in good condition. It is best to wash your turquoise jewelry in warm soapy water if it becomes extremely soiled and dry with a soft cloth. For just everyday smudges simply wiping your piece with a soft cloth should do the trick.
A Stone For The Ages
When you are looking for a beautiful jewelry piece that is genuine and affordable look no further than turquoise jewelry. Turquoise jewelry has been popular throughout time and will likely continue to be popular anywhere jewelry is made and worn. By treasuring your turquoise jewelry and maintaining the best practices for care, your piece will last you a lifetime and beyond. Shop for the many colors of turquoise to enjoy this fashionable trend while putting your spin on the style with rings, bracelets, earrings, and other creative designs.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at BlueFashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2013. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
