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Turquoise on your vintage jewelry
Turquoise history and mines
Turquoise meaning Stone of Turkey only exists in few places in the world. It is usually found in dry places such as in the deserts of Asia and the Middle East in China, Turkey and Iran. It is also the national stone of Tibet, a country where it is recognized for its virtues of good health and prosperity.
This stone is also important on the American continent: among the Aztecs, Mayas and Indians, turquoise was very present on ceremonial objects in the form of mosaics.
The oldest discovery of turquoise dates back to more than 6000 years ago, during the time of the Egyptians. We find the turquoise on many objects of the first dynasty of the Pharaohs, the best known example is the mask of Tutankhamun encrusted with this stone.
This stone arrived later in Europe during the Crusades and then in France during the XNUMXth century.
A unique light blue on vintage turquoise jewelry
Turquoise is an intense blue stone, sky blue color that can vary towards a green blue due to the presence of copper and iron. When the stone is dotted with brown, gray or black clouds, it is called "matrix".
The color of this stone can change, when heated to 250°C the blue color becomes green but also with light, oils, cosmetics and greasy products.
Some notions of gemology:
Turquoise belongs to hydrated copper aluminum phosphate, the hardness of this stone depends on its chemical composition and origin. It has a density varying from 2,3 to 2,85 and a hardness varying from 4 to 6 on the Mohs scale.
A gem that is adorned with different virtues and benefits:
In lithotherapy, turquoise is said to:
- Fights eye problems
- Relieves nasal passages and mucous membranes
- Stimulates the heart and throat
- purifies the blood
- Eliminates toxins from the body and excess acidity
- Calms muscle aches, colds, migraines and headaches
- Helps protect spines, bronchi, arthritis and asthma.
Vintage and trendy
Turquoise as an ornament on jewelry has been used since antiquity following archaeological excavations in Egypt, when the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered. This intense blue is then observed during Art Nouveau and Art Deco, to this day it is a trend present in our jewelry particularly during the summer season.
And did you know that the Tiffany & Co gemologist speculated that the blue that characterizes its boxes, emblematic of the entire brand, would come from the popularity of turquoise when Tiffany & Co began to use this color in 1878?
Discover all our turquoise embellished jewelry as well as our jewelry Tiffany.