Turquoise Jewelry

Turquoise bead necklace with sterling silver pendant

There’s a lot of turquoise going on! Turquoise jewelry is really popular in the western United States and elsewhere, too. Turquoise ranges in color from sky blue to yellow green and all the shades between. You can find the necklace and the ring on my website. The chunky turquoise bead necklace makes a real statement…

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Turquoise is the Traditional December Birthstone

turquoise wrap bracelet on my hand and silver ring

Turquoise is the traditional December birthstone and it’s popular for jewelry.  It’s one of my favorite gemstones. The word turquoise comes from the French word for Turkey.  The name for the stone is historical since turquoise was originally brought to Europe along with other goods on trade route to Europe that ran through Turkey. Turquoise…

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Birthstones for April and May

What is a birthstone?  The association of one gem to each month and the idea of wearing your “birthstone,” started long ago – between the 16th and 18th centuries.The National Association of Jewelers released a list of so-called “modern birthstones” in 1912 in the United States. Wearing your birthstone is supposed to bring you luck.…

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Healing Stones for Us and for Our Furry Friends

Healing Stones for Us and for Our Furry Friends – I love gemstones and crystals and I’m always interested in learning more ways to have beneficial stones around me to bolster me and also my environment. This interest has inspired me to work on designs for PetsAmulets – healing and protective stones for our furry friends.…

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My Favorite Gemstones – Turquoise

Chemically, turquoise is a hydrated copper aluminum phosphate. Turquoise has been known and used for jewelry and ornamental purposes since ancient times. It is definitely one of the oldest known stones. Turquoise got its name because the stones were originally shipped through Turkey. Deposits in Egypt were totally depleted before 2000 BC. Long ago ancient…

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More of My Favorite Gems

Gems are described by chemical composition, crystal structure, and where they are found.  Gems are further classified based on properties like refractive index (how they bend light), luster, hardness, etc.  Perfection in appearance is of primary importance in the finished gemstone.  Many gemstones have long and complex histories.   Some specific gems have a lot of…

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