· By Dillon Rose
Turquoise • December's Birthstone
Turquoise, December’s birthstone, is one of the world’s most ancient gems. We have curated a gorgeous collection of loose turquoise stones and finished jewelry that would make lovely gifts for your love.
Archaeologists have revealed the rulers of ancient Egypt adorned themselves with turquoise jewelry and Chinese artisans were carving it more than 3,000 years ago. Turquoise has long been considered a stone that guarantees health, good fortune, and protection from evil.
Here in the southwestern US, Turquoise was a ceremonial gem and a medium of exchange for Native American tribes. The Apaches believed that Turquoise attached to a bow or firearm increased a hunter or warrior’s accuracy.
Originating in the 13th century, the gem’s name comes from the French expression “pierre tourques”, or “Turkish Stone”. This name reflects the material probably first arrived in Europe from Turkish traders.
Turquoise is found in only a few places on earth: dry and barren regions where acidic, copper-rich groundwater seeps downward and reacts with minerals containing phosphorus and aluminum. The result of this sedimentary process is a porous, semitranslucent to opaque compound of hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate.
