Gem Turquoise
20th Century Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Amethyst, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Stud Earrings
Onyx, Turquoise Matrix, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1960s Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Objects
Silver
2010s American Chinoiserie More Lighting
Coral, Rock Crystal, Turquoise, Steel
Early 20th Century Choker Necklaces
Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Amazonite, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Amazonite, Diamond, Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary French Pillows and Throws
Textile
2010s American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Tourmaline, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Navajo Native American Objects
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Unknown Artisan Cocktail Rings
Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Amethyst, Turquoise, Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow ...
2010s American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century Spanish Brooches
Turquoise, Multi-gemstone, White Diamond, Gold, Silver
Vintage 1970s American Bangles
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Emerald, Garnet, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, Tiger s Eye...
20th Century Dome Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Brooches
Turquoise, Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s French Brooches
Amethyst, Turquoise, Diamond
Vintage 1970s Necklace Enhancers
Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, Turquoise, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Bracelets
Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Byzantine Bangles
Amethyst, Carnelian, Jade, Moonstone, Multi-gemstone, Turquoise, Gold Pl...
21st Century and Contemporary French Byzantine Cuff Bracelets
Carnelian, Jade, Moonstone, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Turquoise, Gold Plate,...
2010s American Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Charm Bracelets
Amethyst, Citrine, Coral, Pearl, Tourmaline, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s North American Drop Necklaces
Oriental Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Hoop Earrings
Carnelian, Chrysophrase, Lapis Lazuli, Moonstone, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Y...
Vintage 1960s English Retro Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Emerald, Garnet, Opal, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Ruby, Emerald, Turquoise
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Brooches
White Diamond, Emerald, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 1...
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Modernist Brooches
Coral, Emerald, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Indian Anglo-Indian Beaded Bracelets
Chrysoberyl, Citrine, Coral, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Pearl, Ruby, Sapp...
21st Century and Contemporary European Artisan Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century French Modern More Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Garnet, Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Iolite, Pearl, Topaz, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Hoop Earrings
Amethyst, Citrine, Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Moonstone, Onyx, Peridot, Turquo...
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Coral, Diamond, Jade, Pearl, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Antique 1770s Georgian Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, 9k Gold
2010s American Modern Bangles
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterli...
2010s Australian Artist Beaded Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Jade, Onyx, Opal, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Tou...
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Bangles
Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Signet Rings
Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Native American Native American Objects
Vintage 1950s Cufflinks
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amber, Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Modern Native American Objects
Mid-20th Century Navajo Native American Objects
Sterling Silver
2010s French Contemporary Drop Earrings
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Navajo Native American Objects
Silver
2010s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Turquoise, 18k Gold
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Gem Turquoise For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Gem Turquoise?
The Legacy of Turquoise in Jewelry Design
The thought of vintage and antique turquoise jewelry often conjures up images of striking Navajo bracelets and necklaces worn with a denim shirt and cowboy boots. This all-American look has been celebrated by fashion designers like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger on their runways and in ad campaigns. In the October 2016 issue of Vogue magazine, Tom Ford said he only wears turquoise jewelry at his Santa Fe ranch. So what is it about this gorgeous blue-green stone that makes us wish that we were born in December?
It’s not surprising that turquoise is abundant in New Mexico and Arizona because, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), it needs to be in “dry and barren regions where acidic, copper-rich groundwater seeps downward and reacts with minerals that contain phosphorus and aluminum.
Turquoise is not found in a single crystal but is a combination of microcrystals. Its appearance, waxy and opaque, is attributed to its structure and composition. “It’s an aggregate of microscopic crystals that form a solid mass. If the crystals are packed closely together, the material is less porous, so it has a finer texture. Fine-textured turquoise has an attractive, waxy luster when it’s polished. Turquoise with a less-dense crystal structure has higher porosity and coarser texture, resulting in a dull luster when it’s polished,” notes the GIA. Since no one wants to set a dull piece of turquoise, porous turquoise is often treated to make the stone more attractive.
In the United States, there have been discoveries of turquoise from 200 B.C. It is not just loose turquoise stones that have been found, but entire suites of jewelry from prehistoric times. In the late 19th-century, the Navajo Indians, who learned silversmithing from the Spanish, started to make beads out of turquoise and eventually combined it with silver around the 1880s. Initially this jewelry was for ceremonial purposes, but it became fashionable once the tourism in the Southwest picked up in the beginning of the 20th century.
Find antique and vintage turquoise rings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories on 1stDibs.