Turquoise Jewelry Conway AR

Turquoise - A Fan Favorite

Silver turquoise pendants from the Southwestern United States have been extremely popular in the world of jewelry today. Those who can afford to splurge spend to buy pieces with jewelry natural, gem-quality turquoise. Most of us though, settle for items with stabilized turquoise. Regardless of how much you can afford to or choose to spend, we all agree that turquoise jewelry is beautiful and key component of every jewelry collection. Our attraction and love for this blue gemstone is not new. Mankind has loved turquoise ever since it was discovered some time around 3,000 BC. The ancient Egyptians however, did not help spread ownership of this stone. The believed that turquoise was their connection with the gods and therefore only allowed kings, queens, other members of the royal family, and priests to buy and use turquoise. Fortunately, those curbs on the ownership are no longer in place and everyone who likes and can pay for it, can buy and own turquoise jewelry. Let’s explore the reasons why turquoise has become a fan favorite of many over the past several centuries.

Man has always considered turquoise to be a beautiful stone. Although shades of blue are the most common colors for this stone, it is also sometimes found in greens and on rare occasion, even in yellow. The remnants of the parent bedrock where the stone was formed appear as the characteristic dark vein pattern on the surface of the stone. The color of the stone controlled by the elements that make up the stone. The copper content is responsible for the blue color. If iron is present as a secondary mineral, the stone appears in colors ranging from green to bluish green. On the rare occasion that zinc compounds were present during the formation of the stone, the stone becomes yellow. Turquoise is a versatile stone. The blue color is bright and yet is sober enough to be used in jewelry designs for men and women. Bolo ties, tie pins, and cuff links are popular types for men. The use and application in women’s jewelry is much more prevalent. Designs for turquoise jewelry usually have sterling silver settings that frame the stones. In more traditional designs, turquoise is usually the only gemstone. More recent applications include matching turquoise with other materials. Common materials for this are red or pink coral and freshwater pearls. In both cases, it is important to match colors and relative presence so that one material does not overwhelm the other. For example, some white pearl necklaces have a series of five or seven graduated turquoise beads at the base of the necklace. The light blue color of the beads compliments the white to off-white color of the cultured pearls. Two classic jewelry materials combine to produce a more creative and innovative design.

Dale is a geo-professional in the Southwestern United States, and an avid and amateur gemmologist and a jewelry buff.

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