Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Natural
2010s American Native American Band Rings
Coral, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Wedding Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Art Deco Wedding Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
2010s American Early Victorian Drop Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Baroque Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Pink Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold-filled, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Egyptian Art Deco Loose Gemstones
Turquoise
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold
2010s Tennis Bracelets
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Egyptian Art Deco Loose Gemstones
Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary Egyptian Art Deco Loose Gemstones
Turquoise
2010s Multi-Strand Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold
2010s Multi-Strand Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Multi-Strand Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s Multi-Strand Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Tennis Bracelets
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Stud Earrings
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold
Mid-20th Century Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Dangle Earrings
Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Turquoise, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Drop Earrings
Cultured Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Necklace Enhancers
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Cuff Bracelets
Onyx, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Dome Rings
Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
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Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Natural For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Natural?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021Sleeping Beauty turquoise is a gemstone distinguished by its medium sky-blue color. The finished gemstones have a smooth, glossy finish with little to no veining. Shop for a range of elegant Sleeping Beauty turquoise jewelry from top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Sleeping Beauty turquoise is a sky or robin’s egg blue with little to no matrix, such as spots or veins. Sleeping Beauty is mined in Globe, Arizona. Due to the softness of the stone, jewelry made with Sleeping Beauty turquoise can be hard to find. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of turquoise jewelry, including Sleeping Beauty pieces.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, Sleeping Beauty turquoise has not been mined since 2012. The end of active mining for this Arizona specialty has only increased the demand by collectors. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of expertly-vetted Sleeping Beauty turquoise jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers.