Turquoise: Mojave

Turquoise has been revered since ancient times and yet it always finds itself back in fashion. The vibrant variety of colors found in Mojave turquoise are one of the most popular trends in the world of jewelry and fashion.

Turquoise has long been thought of as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman and has been called a “gemstone of the peoples.” The name turquoise is derived from an Old French word meaning “Turkish stone,” because the stone was introduced to Europe by Venitian traders who purchase turquoise at Turkish bazaars. These stones likely came from the Sinai Peninsula in Iran, an area that has been mining turquoise since 5000 BCE. The Persians called turquoise “firouze,” which means victorious. Turquoise is the national gemstone of Iran. Absolutely stunning and intriguing, Mojave turquoise is crafted through a process that uses a hydraulic press to assemble turquoise nuggets by introducing a bronze metal matrix throughout the brick of base turquoise. Once the turquoise is pressed or assembled, it is stabilized to harden the stone. This is the only product in today's market that features real Arizona turquoise and real metal matrix. This unique process was created by the Arizona Kingman Mine.

GemLORE
  • Turquoise was one of the first gemstones ever mined, dating back to 6000 BCE in the Sinai Peninsula.
  •  The tomb of the Egyptian Queen Zer, who ruled around 5500 BCE, was unearthed in 1900. A turquoise and gold bracelet was found on her wrist, making this one of the oldest pieces of jewelry on earth.
  •  In Mexico, the Aztecs began mining turquoise between 900 and 1000 CE, often fashioning it into elaborate masks.
  •  Turquoise played a substantial role in several Native American cultures and symbolized the union and balance between the Earth and sky. During the 16th century, tribe members used turquoise as currency.
  •  The Anasazi tribe mined turquoise in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. The city of Chaco Canyon's economy was largely based on the turquoise trade, and gems from this area were distributed along the trade routes of the American continent. Specimens have been located as far away as the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá in the Yucatán.
  •  The Navajo believed turquoise fell from the sky and protected against demons.
  •  Apache warriors believed that wearing turquoise improved their hunting. Affixing turquoise to a bow meant that the arrows shot from it would always hit their mark.
  •  Turquoise is used to correct imbalance and bring peace of mind.
  •  Crystal healers use turquoise to ward off depression, exhaustion and panic attacks. It is also thought to be helpful to the respiratory system and fight allergy symptoms.
GemGPS

LOCATION: Arizona

Mojave Turquoise is sourced from the famous Arizona Kingman Mine in the state of Arizona.

GemFACTS
  • Ranks 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale.
  •  Mojave turquoise is a rich, vibrant color, presenting in shades of purple, green, blue and orange with copper-colored veining.
  •  Sourced from the Arizona Kingman Mine.
  •  Member of the turquoise family.