Turquoise, a soft semiprecious stone, is both historically important and one of the most expensive gems. Its worth has persisted from ancient times to the present. The colour blue was originally named from the ancient Greek word azura. It has been greatly sought after for aeons, and is thought to be among the oldest diamonds ever found. Iran is one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited nations, and its production of turquoise has made it an economic power in the Middle East and Europe for at least two thousand years.
Turquoise is mined in New Mexico, and it has been used in a wide range of Aztec mosaics and other products from the Americas. The complex colour schemes and designs of these mosaics made them instantly recognisable. The demand for turquoise in Mesoamerica has been hypothesised to have contributed to the gemstone’s subsequent appeal in the Southwestern United States. Turquoise was mined in California and New Mexico by native peoples before Europeans arrived. Because of this, turquoise quickly became an important design element in Native American art and decoration.
Their History, as Told by the People Who Know It Best
The rapid urbanisation of the American West in the second half of the nineteenth century led directly to an upsurge in demand for turquoise, which led to a mining boom throughout the country. The industry collapsed rapidly due to the Great Depression, an economic crisis that started in the 1930s. Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada continue to be major centres for the mining and processing of turquoise. Only in Nevada is this beautiful stone not extracted. Currently, just one mine, located in California’s Apache Canyon, is actively producing minerals for sale. Choosing the Vintage Turquoise Jewelry is essential here.
An Overview of Turquoise Jewelry in Brief
Ancient turquoise jewellery and talismans have long been treasured by people from all walks of life and all corners of the world for their beauty and perceived magical power. It has been said that turquoise may restore health. Treasured for its beauty and significant political and spiritual implications, turquoise was highly valued by ancient societies such as the Egyptians, Chinese (who started cutting it more than 3,000 years ago), Persians, and Aztecs. More than three thousand years ago, the Chinese started carving turquoise.
In Mesoamerica, turquoise was initially utilised somewhere about the third century. The stone’s symbolic value ensured its continued use across the area far into the eleventh century. For centuries, emperors, priests, and other religious leaders have utilised the material as a symbol of rain, fertility, and maize in ceremonies, decorations, and general décor. Many different applications of the material allowed for this result. It is used in making Antique Jewelry Sets too.
The material was initially introduced to Europe during the Crusades in the 11th century, thanks to Turkish trade networks. Turquoise comes from the French term “pierre tourques,” which relates this tale. Since the Middle Ages, it has been worn as a talisman, but starting in the 17th century, it has also been worn as a fashionable accessory.
The Native American custom of using turquoise in jewellery
Turquoise, a formerly highly regarded monetary gem, is generally associated with the ancient Native American civilization that existed in what is now the southwestern United States. The Pueblo, Navajo, Hopi, and Apache peoples all held turquoise in great value for its ceremonial and protective significance.
