Antique Turquoise Jewelry is an extremely old type of jewelry which is popular amongst experts and strongly desired by users. This sky-blue stone is frequently found in all types of fashion accessories and apparels and iis a highly regarded ornament in the jewelry industry. Antique turquoise jewelry can make use of this gemstone in the form of beads, cabochons or variously carved shapes for ornamenting cameos, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches and belt buckles.
Turquoise is an opaque, blue to Green mineral that is formed from hydrated copper aluminum phosphate and is one of the earliest gemstones ever mined, starting over 3,000 years ago in Persia, the country currently known as Iran. From Cleopatra to Alexander the Great, they have been enchanted by the magic of antique turquoise jewelry.
The Persians took it to Turkey, which provided trade facilities to European Royal houses and also became the origin of the gem’s name: turquoise meaning ‘from Turkey’ in
French. In the ancient Persian kingdom, the sky-blue gemstone was worn around the neck or the wrist as protection against unnatural death. A change in the color of the stone would be interpreted as a warning, indicating an unpleasant forthcoming event. In more modern times, it is recognized that the blue-color gem can indeed change color, but not necessarily to indicate an impending danger, but rather resulting from exposure to light, or a chemical reaction produced by cosmetics dust, or acidity of human skin.
This alluring microcrystalline gem has meanwhile been found all over the world, including Australia, Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Chile, Mexico and the United States.. The gorgeous blue turquoise is no longer mined exclusively in Iran, but the Persian antique turquoise jewelry which is often carved and inlaid with gold, maintains its high esteem and value.
In the United States, turquoise deposits were mined by pre-columbian Native Americans and in some cases, its quality rivaled the Iranian turquoise in both color and durability. And interestingly, as many others before and after, they held turquoises’ magical presence as a source of protection to warriors, spiritual powers to priests and healing properties thought only to come from supernatural origins.
Also, its beautiful color assured a permanent presence in royal jewelry and garments, adorning the most beautiful princesses and protecting the most powerful kings. The chromatic range of a semi-translucent piece of turquoise mixed with its characteristic waxy luster is just mesmerizing. When you hold it, you can witness some of the magic that ancient cultures assigned to it. Its color, which may vary depending on the iron and copper content, spans from china blue to deep blue and from blue green to yellow green.
Turquoise can be treated in many different and sometimes controversial ways, so be sure to ask an antique turquoise jewelry expert on more information. Being relatively soft, turquoise is sensitive.. The color may pale after the stone has been worn for a long time. For this reason, even high-quality stones are treated with wax and subsequently rendered more resistant.