TURQUOISE
A gem unparalleled in poise, is the radiant Turquoise.
A gem unparalleled in poise, is the radiant Turquoise.
Turquoise is an opaque blue to green mineral, prized over centuries for its unique appearance. Dating back to the 17th century, the gemstone has been mentioned time and again in history, making it truly timeless in all forms of being. The vibrant Turquoise is so pleasing on the eye that it has been ordained an official colour in itself - a privilege that no other gemstone in the world has had to this day. The best of Turquoise reaches a Mohs Hardness Scale of just under 6.
The word turquoise comes from the French for ‘Turkish’, as the gem was originally imported from Turkey. From the Persians to the Ancient Egyptians to the Native Americans, its striking blue hue with rich varieties of brown and black veining - also known as the matrix - has caught the eye of many a discerning lover of high-quality gemstones. In fact, its visual appeal is so great that it has been the source of many spiritual belief systems throughout the centuries.
Arizona, U.S.A, Mexico
| Mineral Family Turquoise |
Refractive Index 1.610 to 1.650 |
Mohs Hardness 5 to 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Birthstone December |
Chemical composition CuAl6(PO4)4 (OH)8.5H2O |
Briefringence Not detectable |
| Specific gravity 2.76 (+0.14, -0.36) |
We produce them in all kinds of shapes and standard calibrated sizes. A rare collection of natural (untreated) ‘sleeping beauty’ turquoise is part of our one-of-a-kind collection.
A gem with light to medium sky blue hue is an ideal colour for a turquoise but they also occur in lighter and deeper blue hue and a distinctive blue with green undernotes.
Being an opaque stone, Turquoises often have a typical matrix pattern like white clouds, reddish-brown patterns and black veins. We grade them based on their colour and matrix and the cleaner, smoother stones are separated from those having irregularities which are then priced accordingly.
Turquoise is most often stabilized. A process where the stones are injected with epoxy resins or acrylic compounds making them more solid, durable and resistant to scratches
Another proprietary method used for treating them is known as the Zachery-process. Apart from hardening the stones, this process slightly improves the colour and the treatment is stable.
