![]() ![]() ![]() More typically, this stone occurs as an opaque deposit in nodules, in veins within host rocks, or as shallow crusts on the surface of rocks. (Specimens from this locale are rare and bring a hefty price from collectors). Only one deposit is known to produce transparent to translucent crystals: Lynch Station, Virginia. What is Turquoise?Ĭhemically, turquoise is a hydrated copper/aluminum phosphate of aggregate, cryptocrystalline structure. Licensed under CC By-SA 3.0.Īlthough turquoises do have some physical limitations as jewelry stones, with proper cutting, treatment, and care, they can make wonderful additions to your collection. From the collection of the Hallwyl Museum, Stockholm, Sweden. Gold-plated sterling silver brooch with turquoise cabochons. Today, more jewelry designers are emulating the Persians and Victorians and setting pieces in gold. In the Victorian Era, turquoise was greatly admired and also typically set in gold. Public Domain.Īlthough the practice of setting turquoises in silver has a long tradition in the United States, jewelers traditionally set these stones in gold, sometimes with diamonds, in the Middle East as well as Iran. Gold ear ornament featuring a winged runner mosaic of turquoise, sodalite, and shell (8.1 × 8.3 cm). Turquoise has inspired many legends and folkloric beliefs and remains a highly desired material for jewelry and decorative objects. Persia (Iran) introduced Medieval Europe to this stone. Later, the Chinese and Ancient American cultures did the same. As early as 3,000 BCE, the Ancient Egyptians mined and worked turquoise into jewelry and ceremonial objects. Turquoise has withstood the vicissitudes of fashion as well as the passage of millennia. Turquoise: Arizona and New Mexico (right rear nugget ~ 2 inches long). For more information on turquoise value factors, consult our buying guide. Even the very highest grades of material are modestly priced compared to many other gems. (Turquoise is also the birthstone for those born on Saturday). Just as no gem collection would be complete without several representatives of this species, no jewelry collection should be without at least one piece featuring this beloved traditional December birthstone. Turquoise enjoys an avid collector market, with sibling rivalries among the various enthusiasts who see virtue in different colors, matrix variations, and mine sites. Vintage, carved beads, untreated natural Chinese turquoise, 10 mm, 4.9 cts each. Lower grades are used as polished beads or natural, “nugget-style” beads. The highest grades of turquoise are used for cabochons, carvings, and inlay. Turquoise with “chicken track” pattern, 8.57 cts, 24.5 x 10.5 mm, rectangular cabochon, Nevada. Spiderweb turquoise, veined with black matrix in a pattern that looks like crocheted lace, is quite popular. ![]() Generally, darker shades and less green tint in blue colors add more value to turquoises. Of course, consumers who appreciate matrix patterns would consider their beauty crucial to determining their value. A turquoise’s capacity for taking a good polish without stabilization is also an important factor. In terms of value, color evenness and saturation are the primary considerations. ![]()
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