I love turquoise. All of it. Give me the brilliant robin's-egg blue, the greenish turquoise, the dark veins, the wild spiderweb patterns. Give me the pieces that look like tiny maps of places that don't exist.
Two stones can have completely different colors and patterns and still be turquoise. And sometimes a knowledgeable expert can look at a piece and have a pretty good idea of which mine it came from. How incredible is that?
What is turquoise?
Turquoise is a hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate mineral that develops when mineral-rich water interacts with suitable rock, often in arid environments. Copper contributes to its wonderful blue-green color. Unlike transparent gemstones, turquoise is usually opaque. Its beauty comes from color, texture, and pattern.
Can an expert recognize the mine?
Experienced turquoise dealers sometimes recognize combinations of color, matrix, and texture associated with specific deposits. Sleeping Beauty in Arizona is famous for relatively clean vivid blue; Kingman can display varied matrix; Royston in Nevada often shows beautiful greens and blues; and Persian turquoise from the Nishapur region of Iran is renowned for sky-blue material. But a mine can produce many appearances, and different mines can look alike. Appearance is an educated clue, not definitive proof of origin.
Pakistani turquoise and metallic-looking maps
I'm especially drawn to material sold as Pakistani turquoise. That intense blue with dark, metallic-looking inclusions and almost cartographic patterns absolutely gets me. It looks like little rivers, islands, and coastlines.
Trade names and claimed geographic origins aren't always verified, and some blue copper minerals can be confused with turquoise. I don't want to assume the metallic-looking parts are pyrite without knowing the material. But visually? I love every bit of it.
What is matrix?
The dark lines and patches are called matrix: pieces of surrounding host rock that remain with the gemstone. Matrix can look black, brown, tan, or golden, and sometimes it forms an incredible spiderweb. Some collectors prefer pure blue; I love stones that look like landscapes.
Why is some turquoise green?
Turquoise ranges from sky blue through teal to green. Copper and other aspects of its chemistry, including iron, influence the color. A clean blue has traditionally been prized, but seafoam and olive-green turquoise can be every bit as compelling.
Natural, stabilized, dyed, and imitation turquoise
Untreated turquoise hasn't been enhanced. Stabilized turquoise is genuine turquoise strengthened with a substance such as resin. Dyed turquoise has been colored, while imitation turquoise might be dyed howlite or magnesite rather than turquoise at all. Treatments should be disclosed so you know what you're buying.
Thousands of years of turquoise
Turquoise has appeared in ancient Egyptian jewelry, Persian decorative arts, and the distinct jewelry traditions of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and Pueblo artists have rich, living traditions of turquoise jewelry making, with distinct histories and techniques.
How to care for turquoise
Turquoise measures about 5–6 on the Mohs hardness scale and can be porous. Avoid perfume, lotions, harsh chemicals, soaking, and ultrasonic or steam cleaners. Wipe gently with a soft cloth and store away from harder stones.
Meaning and symbolism
Turquoise has been associated with protection and good fortune in different cultural traditions. Those are symbolic associations, not scientifically demonstrated effects. I love the actual geology, history, and extraordinary variety. Every Mettle by Abby piece is one of a kind. Sometimes the best stone isn't the most perfect one; it's the one with the best story.
