Turquoise: The Birthstone for December
Turquoise is a striking and unique stone which is versatile and more affordable than many of the birthstones associated with the other months of the year. With a wealth of exotic history, this is a timeless gemstone which has been popular with people from every continent for thousands of years.
Turquoise was one of the first gemstones to be mined, and has been sourced from all around the globe, including China, Iran, Australia, Tibet, the United States and even Cornwall.
It is thought that the name Turquoise may come from either Turques, the French word for Turks because the gemstone was first brought to Europe from China through Turkey in the 1600s. There is also the chance that the name may have come from the term Pierre Turquin, which translates as “dark-blue stone”.
Turquoise wasn’t widely used in the West for another 300 years after it was first brought to Europe as, initially, it was predominantly associated with the Roman Catholic Church. In the fourteenth century, following a sharp downfall of the Roman Catholic Church, turquoise was eventually allowed to be used by the secular public.
Turquoise is a rare gemstone and is an opaque blue/green mineral. Chemically, it comprises of copper and aluminium and the varying ratio of these two elements influences the intensity of the pigmentation; the colour of turquoise can vary from white and a powdery blue, to sky blue or even a luscious grassy green. When a stone is greener in colour, this is either as a result of it being dehydrated or containing iron impurities, as opposed to aluminium.
Sometimes turquoise can feature markings, known as the Matrix, and these are formed from remnants of the host rock that the stone originally formed in. Some carvers attempt to remove these blemishes but often it is unavoidable and some jewellers even embrace the uniqueness of the markings. Although technically matrix lowers the value of turquoise, some buyers prefer it; if the pattern created is evenly distributed in a Spiderweb formation, it is still considered to be of value.
The finest Turquoise is between 5 and 6 on the Mohs scale, which is relatively soft. This makes it ideal for carving and there are thousands of examples of intricate ancient artefacts created from the stone, including the Taj Mahal and Tutunkhamun’s burial mask. People have also used Turquoise to make fine jewellery for thousands of years. From the Ancient Egyptians to the Aztecs, Persian royalty and the rulers of Mesapotamia, some of the most stunning jewellery in history incorporates the striking gemstone.
As with everything that comes with such vast history, there are a number of myths, legends and theories associated with turquoise. In Western culture in the thirteenth century, it was believed that turquoise brought strength and improved the physical ability of warriors in battle. Many people in the South Western states of America carved intricate animals out of turquoise and placed them in graves, believing that the colours of the stone would assist in the transition from the green earth to heaven in the blue skies, and the creatures would guide and protect them on their journey. In Tibet and Russia, turquoise rings represent marital prosperity and are given to brides.
Do you have turquoise jewellery that means something special to you? Why not pop into either or Ramsgate or Margate branches and find out how much it’s worth! We stock some stunning pieces of turquoise jewellery, which would make the perfect gift for someone with a December birthday.