Turquoise

Composition

Turquoise is a blue-to-green stone containing copper and aluminum. It is a rare and precious gemstone due to its exquisite color, and has been valued as an ornamental gemstone for thousands of years. Turquoise is a precious commodity that is perhaps the most valuable, non-transparent, non-metal product in the jewellery sector, which is why there is so much imitation turquoise on the market today. It is very difficult to find Turquoise with a completely uniform and evenly distributed light blue hue, but there is one area in the world presently  manufacturing this quality of turquoise. The Sleeping Beauty mine in the USA.

History

The elegance of turquoise has been adored in many civilizations, such as the rulers of ancient Egypt, the Aztecs, Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley, and even in ancient China since at least the Shang Dynasty. The importance of turquoise as an ornamental stone in the West didn't become significant until the 14th century. This was when the dominance of the Catholic Church diminished, enabling usage of turquoise in secular jewelry. Perhaps the most well-known items incorporating the gem are those retrieved from Tutankhamun's tomb, most prominently the Pharaoh's famous burial mask which was generously inlaid with the gem.

Healing properties

Turquoise is a stone of strength, ideal for managing fatigue, depression, or anxieties. It facilitates the body's processing of nutrients, reducing the possibility of contamination and virus infection. It is anti-inflammatory, decreasing acidic gastritis , and is helpful for rheumatoid arthritis and stomach ulcers. Turquoise is especially healthy for one's respiratory system and may be useful in healing lung diseases and allergies. Wearing turquoise jewelry helps avoid pneumonia, bronchitis, colds and other respiratory illnesses . Turquoise strengthens one's desire to perceive oneself, even the bad sides of their self image.