Turquoise has been prized by many cultures throughout history as a holy stone, and one that increases the positive energy of the bearer. In Tibetan culture, women traditionally wear their wealth on their bodies in the form of turquoise and silver, and the Aztecs mined turquoise to use as a form of ornamental currency. The most valuable turquoise in the world traditionally has come from Iran, but in recent years, the brilliant blue stones from the southwest of the USA have taken that title.
The name turquoise is apparently related to the fact that is was brought to Europe from the Eastern Mediterranean by Levantine traders, more commonly known as Turks. More info here...
Turquoise has always been one of my favourite stones, both to wear and to create with. When we traveled in Nepal, I was able to collect some beautiful green stones, and I have used two of them this week in a pair of new Greenleaf Earrings. The stones from this part of the world have a high iron content, which gives them their rich green hue.
Stones from the American southwest have less iron, and more copper, resulting in their striking blue colour. I used two gorgeous stones from Arizona this week in the Sedona Sunrise earrings, which are accented with lovely golden garnet rondelles.
Need a boost of happiness? Then these earrings might just be what the doctor ordered!
