| Gemstones |
| Turquoise |
| Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstone materials known to man.It has been considered a bringer of good fortune or a talisman. In the ancient Persian Empire, the sky-blue gemstones were worn as protection against unnatural death. If they changed color, the wearer was thought to have reason to fear the approach of doom. It has been discovered that turquoise certainly can change color, but that this is not necessarily a sign of impending danger. The change can be caused by the light, a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin. Turquoise is the traditional birthstone for December.
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| Colors: | It may be a strong blue color, but more often, pale sky blue, green blue or pale green. |
| Shapes: | Usually cut into cabochons. |
| Origin: | Iran, United States (New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada) and Russia. |
| Care: | Protect from scratches, sharp blows and extreme temperature changes. Turquoise is very soft on the Mohs scale. |
| Notes: | The name 'turquoise' is apparently related to the fact that it was bought to Europe from the Eastern Mediterranean by Levantine traders generally known as "Turks". |