Turquoise Sterling Earrings
2010s Unknown Modern Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Retro Hoop Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Stud Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Stud Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Stud Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s American Victorian Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s Victorian Hoop Earrings
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Drop Earrings
Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Dangle Earrings
Chalcedony, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Art Deco Stud Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s Modern Dangle Earrings
Amethyst, Jade, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Art Nouveau Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Retro Stud Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Mexican Artisan Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Dangle Earrings
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Romantic Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Stud Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Dangle Earrings
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Dangle Earrings
Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Dangle Earrings
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Native American Clip-on Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Turquoise, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
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Turquoise Sterling Earrings For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Turquoise Sterling Earrings?
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.
Finding the Right Earrings for You
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023Yes, sterling silver is okay for earrings. In fact, many people love earrings crafted out of the precious metal. Sterling silver has an appealing cool color and noticeable shine. Plus, the metal is durable, so it can resist scratching when worn frequently. Keep in mind that sterling silver earrings will need regular cleaning and polishing to fight tarnishing. Explore a diverse assortment of sterling silver earrings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 14, 2023Yes, sterling silver can be good for earrings. Many people appreciate the appearance of sterling silver due to its cool color. In addition, sterling silver resists wear and tear to help earrings stand the test of time. One thing to keep in mind is that silver can tarnish, so you'll likely need to regularly clean and polish your earrings to keep them looking like new. Shop a variety of sterling silver earrings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 14, 2023Generally, most experts agree that .925 or 925 sterling silver is the best sterling silver for earrings. This variety of sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy. As a result, it has the cool color and sleek appearance of silver, with another base metal to strengthen it. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of sterling silver earrings.
- 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 23, 2024Yes, it is okay to wear sterling silver earrings. Sterling silver has a cool color that many people find appealing, and the metal is durable enough to resist bending and scratching. One thing to keep in mind is that sterling silver can tarnish over time. You can help keep your earrings looking like new by protecting them from water, chlorine and chemicals found in hair care and beauty products. Cleaning your earrings in accordance with the maker's instructions can also reduce the risk of tarnishing. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of sterling silver earrings.
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