There really is nothing like turquoise: it is one of the most popular gemstones used for jewelry in the world and has been a part of jewelry-making for at least the last 6000 years! There is something distinctly striking yet earthy about its strong coloration and veining: whether the turquoise is blue, green, or even yellow.
Here is a short history of the role of turquoise in the production of accessories, and some reasons why its popularity continues unabated.
The earliest records and physical evidence of the use of turquoise for jewelry-making date back to 5500 BCE when Egyptian tombs yielded some spectacular pieces. Greeks and Italians from all ages wrote about this gemstone, and spoke of it with reverence and awe.
Turquoise was not only used for jewelry, but was also inlaid in pottery, used for floor ornamentation, and carved into intricate figurines and fetishes. The areas where turquoise occurs naturally include China, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, and Egypt, which explains its prevalence in these countries' histories and cultures.
Most United States residents think of turquoise as a Native American material, and indeed, there are distinct areas in our hemisphere (notably parts of Mexico and the Desert Southwest) where turquoise is naturally present. For a thousand years, many Native American tribes have valued turquoise for its perceived healing and protective properties.
In fact, turquoise in both stone and powdered forms was used to cure a wide range of ailments. It was also used in ceremonies, as ornamentation in the form of jewelry, and as a tool for bartering and trade.
If you travel anywhere in the southwestern portion of the United States, you will see turquoise jewelry prominently displayed for sale in a wide range of venues: from the Native American vendor with his wares spread out on a blanket in Santa Fe to the highest-end jewelry stores in Phoenix.
Different tribes use turquoise in distinctive techniques that are indigenous to their own form of jewelry-making: for example, the Zunis will inlay turquoise with coral and other natural materials to form a flat, smooth surface on their rings and necklaces.
Navajo jewelry favors natural gemstone beads on multiple ropes. Knowledgeable fashionistas will learn to recognize a tribe's unique style based on its use of turquoise.
Beware of "fake" turquoise: Howlite, for instance, can be made to look a lot like turquoise but it really isn't. When purchasing turquoise beads and materials online for your own jewelry-making, or when you're shopping at a store, beware of imitators. Because of its high copper content, genuine turquoise will only come in shades of blue, green, and yellow.
Turquoise "goes" with everything and is a classic gemstone that never goes out of style: before buying, make sure to know a little bit about this remarkable gemstone in order to make a knowledgeable purchase.
Author Resource:-
Blackhair International, Corp. (http://www.bhbeads.com/) offers wholesale gemstone beads, pendants, bracelets and other jewelry related products.
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