Jewelry lovers from all over the world are enchanted with Turquoise stones because of their amazing blue-green tones. These valuable stones have very deep cultural significance and provide wonderful beauty. This detailed handbook delves into and explains everything about these beautiful stones.
What Are Turquoise Stones?
Turquoise stones are built up over centuries through geological processes that are not easy. Copper is the element that gives the stone its typical blue color. And iron is the one to turn them green. Generally, gems like these are born in dry areas where copper-rich groundwater comes in contact with aluminum and phosphorus.
This particular stone boasts a waxy to almost glassy sheen. On the Mohs hardness scale, its value is from 5 to 6. This average hardness makes the turquoise one just perfect for the creation of jewelry. They also had great spiritual powers, as is confirmed by historical records, and were in great demand among the people of the ancient world.
History of Turquoise Stone: A Journey Through Time
The turquoise stone history is a story renowned for its 6,000-year span. Around 4000 BCE, Egyptians of the past were the ones who dug it out of the Sinai Peninsula. Besides that, one of the most famous of the ancient ways was the use of turquoise in sacred masks and jewelry.
The indigenous American tribes regarded turquoise as a holy stone. They related it to the earth and the heavens and thought so. Pueblo people used it in their rituals and were deeply involved in the trade of the stone. In their society, the stone was of the most significant a symbol of protection and health.
Skilled Persian workers produced turquoise mosaics that were very complicated. They used these brightly colored stones to decorate their palaces and mosques. The word “turquoise” is derived from the French term “pierre turquoise” which means “Turkish stone.” It was through Turkey that medieval merchants transported Persian turquoise to Europe.
Aztecs and Mayans used turquoise in temples and sacred statues. They ascribed to the stone divine powers. The Spaniards, through their conquests, came across huge turquoise deposits in the Americas. This discovery aroused Europe’s demand for the precious stone in return.
Turquoise Healing Properties: Mind, Body, and Spirit
So, there is a majority of people who, within the framework of turquoise healing properties and its cure power, are bound to believe in it. Crystal healers say that the stone is one, which amongst its other virtues, balances emotions. And to this stone are attributed the powers of stress and anxiety alleviation.
Practitioners of the turquoise rely on it to strengthen the human communication skill. They think that it unlocks the pharynx chakra. This activation is certainly of great support to the bonding and private talk skills, and so forth, and is even by far the simplest way of self-expression art. The use of this crystal will allow people to do so with dignity and not be pompous.
Those into physical healing openly connect turquoise to different kinds of physical healing cases. Some of them are the ones that breathe health is a field that this stone is supporting, along with its detox issues. In addition, the argument that the secretion of the immune system is being improved by the molecule and at the same time that inflammation is alleviated is hereby put forward without any qualms.
The spiritual community is really into it and believes that the stone is providing them with security in meditative practices. They think that it forms a covering that protects the holder from ill intentions. Likewise, it is believed to draw good luck and abundance. That is why so many people who are onto spiritual protection wear turquoise jewelry every day.
Types and Quality of Turquoise Stones
Numerous types of turquoise stones can be found all over the world. Iranian turquoise has a very lovely sky-blue color, representing the best one. The turquoise from the sleeping beauty of Arizona shows a clean blue color without any matrix lines. The Chinese Turquoise are the cheapest and quality varies with prices.
Turquoise stabilized will be less likely to wear out in time. Manufacturers inject the resins into the soft stones to make them stronger. Natural turquoise is more expensive than the treated ones. The mesh of the patterns is the main way to get different characteristics in each piece of the stone.
The value of a turquoise stone is largely affected by the saturation of the color. The presence of a deep, uniform color results in the increase of the stone’s popularity. The spider web matrix that one may find on turquoise is very attractive visually. Besides the dimensions and the purity of the gems also affect the pricing.
Gemstones for Sale: Choosing Quality Turquoise
When an individual is eager to find gemstones for sale, the quality assessment would be one of the most important tasks leading to effective choice. Among other signs that depict quality of the gemstone, consistency of the color throughout the stone is the most probable one. Do not hesitate to exclude those stones which have the appearance of chalk or powder on the surface. Both these features are the characteristics of low-grade and unstable materials/stones.
Make sure that the matrix you observe is an intrinsic part of the turquoise instead of being the result of artificial treatments. The real turquoise is characterized by organic – i.e. natural – changes in color, and the surface is accordingly uneven. On the other hand, the synthetic versions are usually perfectly uniform and so look too neat to be real ones. The price can be a good indicator of the authenticity and also the quality of the stone in question.
Taking the geographic area of the stone into account is also a very good idea of making the right choice. The turquoise from the Southwest region of the United States is very good if not excellent. The turquoise from Iran is still the reference point. The varieties from China can be a good alternative for starters at a reasonable price.
Where to Buy Real Turquoise Stones
Understanding where to buy real turquoise stones is quite simple if a little cautious and research-oriented. Gem dealers who are reputable provide certificates of authenticity. Jewelry stores that have been around for years are very likely to be dealers of good quality products and provide customer service. Online markets always require more carefulness and confirmation when you buy.
Native American artists make available the authentic stones at the tribal galleries. The Southwest gem and mineral shows are also perfect places to find a wide turquoise selection. Sometimes estate jewelry stores may have vintage turquoise pieces in stock.
Never buy without proper documentation if it is an expensive piece. Certificates of gemology attest to the truthfulness of the gem and its treatments. Trustworthy dealers grant the customer money back option in case of dissatisfaction. Create connections with the most reliable suppliers and buy from them in the future.
Caring for Your Turquoise Stones
The longest life for turquoise stones is going to be the result of proper and careful use. The cleaning of the stones has to be done with a brush with soft bristles and a mild soap. The usage of harsh chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning should be avoided. Jewelry pieces that are stored in the same compartment may scratch each other so keep them separately.
Turquoise is a porous stone that will resent contact with the oil and sweat from your hands. This action gradually changes the appearance of the stone over time. This process is what some collectors need most. Those, however, who use the protective settings do it so as to lessen the direct contact of the stone with the skin.
Conclusion
Intertwined with history and people from different cultural and time periods, turquoise stones still manage to mesmerize the audience. The rumors about the impressive and miraculous powers of healing that accompany their beautiful color, are some of the reasons why the consumers of different ages, cultures, and religions choose turquoise when it comes to gemstones one can rely on. Whether for spiritual purposes or simply for the eye’s sake, turquoise continues to be one of the most sought-after gemstones of all time.
If they are in fact ready to add more to their collection of minerals and gemstones, then the most logical thing for them to do would be to start exploring where to buy rhodochrosite instead, which is an equally beautiful pinkish-red gemstone.
