Turquoise is a opaque blue-to-green stone often used in jewellery due to it amazing colour. It has been thought for thousands of years that it is a holy stone and a bringer of good fortune. In the ancient Persian Empire turquoise jewellery was often worn around the neck or wrist to protect against an unnatural death. If the colour changed it was thought that the wearer my have a reason to fear that something bad was going to happen to them!.
What we now know is that turquoise will change from bright blue to have a more greeny hue over time as it absorbs moisture and oil from our skin. This means you’ll find that the turquoise in vintage jewellery will often look a bit greener than in new jewellery.
Turquoise often comes from Iran (near Nishapur) but is also found in Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Israel, Mexico, Tanzania and the United States. Turquoise was originally sent to Europe through Turkey, hence its name, which means "Turkish" in French.
Natural turquoise is a soft stone which can be easily scratched or broken so all jewellery made with turquoise needs to be looked after with care. It can also be damaged by perfumes, lotions and jewellery cleaning solutions. To clean jewellery containing turquoise it's best to use a soft, clean cotton cloth. It is also important to try and take off your turquoise ring before washing your hands.