Turquoise Nugget
Late 20th Century American Native American Vanity Items
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Antique Early 19th Century American Georgian Beaded Bracelets
Agate, Moonstone, Turquoise, Gold Plate, Pinchbeck
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Sapphire, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1970s American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Adirondack Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1920s American Native American Native American Objects
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Edwardian More Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s Chinese Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s American Drop Necklaces
Turquoise
Vintage 1950s Arts and Crafts Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s New Zealand Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Multi-Strand Neck...
Coral, Turquoise
1990s Unknown Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Mixed Metal
20th Century American Cocktail Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Onyx, Turquoise Matrix, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s More Necklaces
Late 20th Century Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Bohemian Collectible Jewelry
Sterling Silver
2010s Sculptures
Mixed Media
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American More Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Artisan More Bracelets
Turquoise, Zircon
2010s Italian Artisan More Bracelets
Turquoise, Apatite, Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American More Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Bangles
2010s American Modern Beaded Bracelets
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Amazonite, Turquoise Matrix, 24k Gold, Mixed Metal
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, White Gold
20th Century Native American Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Silver
Late 20th Century American Modernist Solitaire Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Onyx, Turquoise
Vintage 1980s Modern Rope Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Copper
American Beaded Bracelets
Turquoise, Gold Plate
Vintage 1960s North American Native American Rope Necklaces
Turquoise, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Chain Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold
American Dangle Earrings
20th Century American Native American Vanity Items
Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Silver
20th Century Rope Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold
Late 20th Century American Native American Collectible Jewelry
Silver
Early 20th Century American Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron
Antique 19th Century American Native American Objects
Pine
Early 2000s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Silver
Vintage 1960s Unknown Modern Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary More Bracelets
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Tibetan Tribal Art
Turquoise, Amber, Silver
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Mid-20th Century French Retro Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
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Turquoise Nugget For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Turquoise Nugget?
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.
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