TURQUOISE

Turquoise is an opaque semi-precious stone of a characteristic sky-blue or greenish-blue colour, one of the oldest jewellery materials in history. It was prized as far back as Ancient Egypt, Persia and the cultures of the indigenous peoples of America, where it was considered a talisman stone bringing luck and protecting from evil. The colour of turquoise may have characteristic dark veins — the 'matrix' of the parent rock — which makes every stone unique. Turquoise is not faceted but worked as a cabochon (a smooth dome), which emphasises its rich colour. It combines beautifully with silver and ethnic motifs. Turquoise is a semi-precious stone of deep sky colour, in which an ancient talismanic tradition combines with a rich, living hue that makes it a favourite of ethnic, boho and silver jewellery with many centuries of history.