For thousands of years, the ancient Persians exported turquoise to the world, it was very popular and to this day the demand is still massive, so enormous is this demand that a world industry has developed not only to extract it, but to imitate and reproduce it. I eat well.
The turquoise gemstone is the official stone for December and is also used to celebrate five years of marriage. Originally, Persia (Iran) was the most important source of turquoise, but now it is practically mined; Good sources for the stone are Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Mexico, Russia, Tanzania, and Turkestan. The best material right now comes from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona.
The color of turquoise can range from a deep blue to blue / green, a dark greenish blue to a yellowish green. The impurities present in the gemstone give the turquoise its color, the copper is responsible for its blue hue, while the iron gives the stone a green hue.
Persian turquoise was less porous than most materials mined today, so it was less treatable, meaning you bought untreated natural gemstones. However, the turquoise from Sleeping Beauty mines is very porous and is often soaked in a resin or coated with wax to prevent the material from crumbling, as well as enhancing its overall appearance and coloration, this treatment is known as turquoise. stabilized.
Staining or staining Turquoise is another way to improve the color of materials, oil, paraffin and copper salt will improve the color and shine of the stones but they are only temporary solutions, treatments of this type result in what is Known as Enhanced Turquoise.
Natural turquoise can be quite expensive and it is for this reason that there are many different imitations on the market today. Faux glass turquoise has been around since Victorian times and can be difficult to distinguish from natural turquoise, sometimes you can get lucky and see air bubbles near the surface that can give it away. Enamel has also been used to imitate turquoise, but it has a much higher shine than the original material.
Turquoise gemstone has long been believed to be a magical stone that connects spiritual awareness and develops inner strength and calm. Turquoise has always been used as a natural protection against the powers of darkness, even now it is used as a protective stone for pilots and air crews and many other occupations considered high risk.
The Indians of North America still produce a large number of traditional silver jewelry with turquoise and believe that the gemstone opens a connection between the sky and the sea.
Navajo Indians have had a long love affair with turquoise or skystone as they refer to the gem, believing that wearing the stone brings them good fortune. Some spiritual ceremonies are held in which turquoise is thrown into a river to help bring rainwater to their lands. Ancient manuscripts from Persia report that the health of a person wearing turquoise can be assessed by variations in the color of the stone. Turquoise is also believed to heal emotions and enhance communication and creativity.
Turquoise is the national gemstone of Iran (Persia) and is used for the decoration of thrones. The Montezuma hoard, on display in the British Museum, includes a wonderful carved serpent that is covered in a mosaic of turquoise.
Turquoise has a hardness of 5-6 on the Moh scale, with a conchoid fracture that means it is a brittle stone that can crumble and scratch very easily. Unlike other gemstones, turquoise can darken and turn slightly green with age. Due to its porosity, the stone can lose its color if it comes in contact with detergents, grease or perspiration.
If you wear a turquoise ring, it should always be removed before washing your hands, and the sweat should be gently wiped off with water.
Turquoise jewelry should always be stored in a cool, dark box on acid-free tissue paper, away from other jewelry that could damage it.
