Turquoise

Turquoise is one of the oldest gems in human use, and one of the few whose name is also the name of a colour. Its shades of sky blue and blue-green appear in the jewellery of many cultures.

What it is

Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium, with a hardness of 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. It forms in dry regions, where groundwater carrying copper moves through rock rich in aluminium and phosphorus, and it is found as veins and nodules, never as large crystals. The colour depends on the balance of copper, which gives blue, and iron and zinc, which push it toward green. Turquoise often contains veins of the host rock, called matrix, which can be brown, black or gold.

Famous sources include Nishapur in Iran, the Sinai Peninsula, the south-western United States (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico), China and Tibet. Persian turquoise is prized for a pure, even sky-blue.

History and culture

The Egyptians mined turquoise in the Sinai Peninsula, and turquoise ornaments were found among the treasures of pharaohs. In Persia, the stone was used to decorate mosques and domes, and it became a national stone. The name comes from the French for Turkish, reflecting the route by which the stone reached Europe through Turkey.

Native American peoples of the south-western United States, including the Navajo, Zuni and Pueblo peoples, have worked turquoise for centuries, and it has a central place in their jewellery and in sacred and social life. In Tibet, turquoise is often worn and used in religious objects. The stone has been used as an amulet in many places, and many travellers’ traditions tell of it as a charm for journeys.

Turquoise is the December stone on the modern list, alongside tanzanite and zircon, and appears with tanzanite on the traditional list. See the December birthstone page.

What crystal traditions associate with it

In many crystal traditions, turquoise is associated with communication, friendship, and travel, and with the throat chakra. It is often linked with Sagittarius or Pisces in zodiac lists, though sources vary. These are symbolic associations, not claims about effects.

How people use it

Turquoise is worn as beads, cabochons set in silver, inlay and carved pieces. Some people wear it when travelling or as a keepsake from a special trip. It is one of the stones most strongly linked to cultural jewellery traditions, and buying or wearing pieces made by Indigenous artists is one way to support the tradition.

Care and safety

• Turquoise is porous and soft. Do not soak it. Water, oils, cosmetics, sweat, perfume and household chemicals can discolour it or mark the surface.
• Put jewellery on after cosmetics and take it off before washing, swimming or cleaning.
• Avoid strong sunlight and heat, which can fade or dry the stone.
• Clean with a soft dry cloth. A slightly damp cloth is the most it should get.
• Turquoise contains copper, and should not be swallowed or put in drinking water.

Stabilised, dyed and imitation stones

Most turquoise on the market is stabilised, meaning that the porous stone is impregnated with resin to harden it, and some is dyed. Reconstituted turquoise is made from powder and resin. Imitations include dyed howlite and magnesite, and plastic. These are not always wrong, but they should be labelled. Natural, untreated turquoise is rare and costs more.

Sourcing

Much of the world’s best turquoise has been mined out or is mined in small quantities. Ask whether a stone is natural or stabilised, where it came from, and, if you choose southwestern jewellery, whether it was made by a Native artist.

A note on health. Crystals are valued for beauty, meaning and ritual. There is no scientific evidence that they treat health conditions. If you are struggling with your health or mood, please speak to a doctor.

Frequently asked questions