Turquoise
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Turquoise is one of
the first gems to be mined. Turquoise has an intense color which varies from
sky blue to green, depending upon the amount of iron and copper in it.
Being relatively soft, having a hardness of 6. Turquoises are
sensitive. As the colour may pale when the stone has been worn for a long
time, even high-quality stones today are treated with wax and subsequently
hardened. In many cultures of the Old and New Worlds, this gemstone has been esteemed for thousands of
years as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman. It really
does have the right to be called a 'gemstone of the peoples'. The oldest evidence for this claim was found in Egypt,
where grave furnishings with turquoise inlay were discovered, dating from
approximately 3000 B.C.. In the ancient Persian kingdom, the sky-blue
gemstones were earlier worn round the neck or wrist as protection against
unnatural death. If they changed colour, the wearer was thought to have
reason to fear the approach of doom. Meanwhile, it has been discovered that
the turquoise certainly can change colour, but that this is not
necessarily a sign of impending danger. The change can be caused by the
light, or by a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the
acidity of the skin.Sky blue turquoise, found in Iran is most valuable form
of turquoise. Greener variety of turquoise is found in Tibet. Persian (now
Iran) turquoise was introduced to Europe via Turkey - hence its name derived
from the word "turkish". |
