The famous sky-blue of turquoise is one of the oldest and most popular gemstone varieties in the world. Mined for thousands of years, turquoise have been prized by civilizations from all corners of the globe, including the ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, North American Indians, and others.
Turquoise’s incredible opaque hue comes from a combination of copper and iron, which exhibit blue and green, respectively. It first came to Europe through Turkey around the time of the Crusades – hence the name, which means “Turkish.”
Often, large pieces of turquoise are permeated by a network of black or brown veins that run along the surface, so for pieces wanting to display only its peculiar hue, beads or small accents are typical. Turquoise is a sensitive gem, with a relative softness and proneness to damage. It’s unique color is typically protected with a clear resin. It’s the December birthstone