Turquoise is December’s birthstone. This beautiful gemstone has been a significant part of art and culture worldwide since ancient times. Today, it is most often adorned on jewelry, especially in American Southwestern fashion.
The Beauty of Turquoise
Turquoise has been cherished by many for thousands of years because of its stunning color forged with love by Mother Nature. Each individual gemstone can range from bright sky blue to earthy green colors. The shade depends on the level of copper and iron in each stone. More iron leads to a greener gemstone. The color of Turquoise is so remarkable that it is one of the only few minerals that has a name which is also used as an actual color in the English language. Gold, silver and copper are the other notable colors. Might we dare say turquoise is an essential gem that all jewelry collectors should have? 💍
Most turquoise stones are embellished by patterns of natural thin lines called matrix. The presence of matrix on turquoise is uniquely chosen by Mother Nature! Turquoise gemstones form when copper-acidic water reacts with weathered volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Some of these stones carry remnants of the original rock they mixed with, and those remnants create the matrix patterns. Darker matrix lines come from limonite host rocks, while lighter matrix lines come from sandstone host rocks. A rare number of turquoise stones – like the Sleeping Beauty Turquoise – instead boasts an elegant solid color without any matrix patterns at all. These special gems just happen to not contain any traces of the host rock!
The Significance of Turquoise
The areas of modern-day Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona had an abundance of mines that were rich in turquoise deposits. Many Indigenous tribes residing in this Southwest area, like the Pueblos, Apache and Navajo, have historically honored turquoise as part of their heritage. These stones were festive cultural attire, used during spiritual ceremonies and even traded for valuable items. Later, the skill of silversmithing brought by the Spanish merged with Indigenous turquoise design work to create bold and interesting pieces. This statement craftsmanship style lives on today through Southwestern jewelry designers, such as our Navajo partner, Fritz Casuse. His collection with American West Jewelry is notable for using the Naja crescent and Arrowhead designs. Join us at the annual Santa Fe Indian Market for a chance to meet Fritz and other Native American artists! ✨
The turquoise gemstone is a powerful and important Indigenous symbol for prosperity. It symbolizes the rainfall from the sky, which was important for crops that were important for cold seasons. The power of turquoise is so strong that it is even believed to bring healing powers and protection from danger. In the past, some Indigenous tribes adorned it on their horse’s bridle for safety and their bows for accuracy. It also symbolizes friendship, creativity, balance and positivity. That makes turquoise a great gift for loved ones who were born in December and embody these strong qualities. 🎁
Why We Love Turquoise
At American West Jewelry, we love turquoise accessories because they are part of our heritage too. Our turquoise jewelry comes in various shades between blue and green. The gems flaunt distinctive matrix patterns and are nestled within creative sterling silver design prongs. We believe that You ~ Collectors are just as unique as each piece. We also believe that everyone wears turquoise for reasons that are intrinsically important to them. Some of our collectors prefer to wear it every day with their casual outfits for protection. Others save turquoise to wear for good luck on special occasions and important events. All our collectors can shop with confidence knowing that we work closely with the Gemological Institute of America to ensure that we offer only genuine turquoise. ⭐️
More about American West Jewelry by Carolyn Pollack
American West Jewelry is on a journey of our own. Our mission is to create bold statement heirloom pieces that empower women by bonding them across all cultures and down through all generations – grandmothers, mothers and daughters. We design our jewelry in Albuquerque, New Mexico by drawing on the diversity of our multi-cultural heritage. Our bracelets, earrings, pendants, necklaces and rings are crafted to reflect our close connection to Mother Earth, the American Southwest and the beautiful women who adore our brand. 🩵