Turquoise has been a treasured gemstone around the world for thousands of years. It was used for beads by the Egyptians as early as 5500 BC. The deposits in Sinai were already worked out by 4,000 BC. In many cultures, Turquoise is regarded as a harbinger of good fortune, success and health.

In ancient Persia it was once believed that the wearing of turquoise talismans would protect the wearer from death.  It was also believed – not only among Persians but also among a number of other cultures – that a change in the color of the turquoise was a sign of danger or illness.

Aztecs and Egyptians considered it a symbol of prosperity. In India, one was to wear a Turquoise on the little finger and look at the gem after seeing the new moon to gain great wealth. According to American Indians, the stone brought together the spirits of sea and sky to bless warriors and hunters; a Turquoise arrowhead assured accurate aim.

A Navajo belief is that a piece of Turquoise cast into a river will cause rainfall. Ancient doctors exploited the stone's medicinal potential by making it into paste to treat ailments of the hip. The Egyptians also mounted Turquoise in Silver to treat eyes suffering from cataracts.

From the thirteenth century comes the belief that Turquoise possessed the power to protect the wearer from injury by falling, especially from horseback; later, this was extended to cover falls from buildings or over a precipice.

Turks often attached Turquoise to the bridles of their horses believing that it rendered the horse more sure-footed. As the horse was often regarded as a symbol of the sun in its rapid course through the heavens, the sky-blue color of Turquoise may have caused it to be associated in some way with the horse. 

During the 16th century, turquoise was used as currency, by the Southwest Indians. They believed the gemstone could bring spoils to the warrior, animals to the hunter, and happiness and good fortune to all.  

Turquoise jewelry attracts money, success, and love. Its powers include protection, healing, courage, friendship, and luck.

Turquoise preserves friendships, makes friends of enemies and is a symbol of generosity, sincerity, and affection.

Turquoise jewelry strengthens the body, aids in tissue regeneration, creates peace of mind, emotional balance, and a general sense of well being.

Turquoise was carried by physicians of the fifteenth century. They claimed that the stone would counter the harmful effects of poison. They prepared a potion containing finely powdered turquoise, which, as well as proving to be a powerful antidote to scorpion stings, was also considered effective in banishing the pains arising from possession by demons.

Looking at turquoise or placing a stone on the eyes was believed to soothe inflamed or strained eyes.

In Indian folklore it is said that once there was a chief with turquoise colored skin. One day he was running from his enemies in the hot desert, whenever he stopped to rest, his perspiration ran onto the ground, collected in rocks and became turquoise.

The Zuni believe that blue turquoise was male and of the sky and green turquoise was female and of the earth. Pueblo Indians thought that its color was stolen from the sky.

The Pima Indians considered it to bring good fortune and strength and that it helped overcome illness.

Pueblo Indians thought that its color was stolen from the sky. In Hopi legend the lizard who travels between the above and the below, excretes turquoise and that the stone can hold back floods.

The Apache felt that turquoise on a gun or bow made it shoot straight.

The Navajo considered good fortune to wear and believe it could appease the Wind Spirit.

In the Orient, a turquoise ring was worn to protect against all evil things.

Turquoise is also very popular as a token of friendship, since it’s reputed to be responsible for faithfulness and reliable relationships.

Turquoise came in Europe through Turkey, but its origin was Persia, where it has been mined for thousands of years. The blue color of turquoise was thought to have powerful metaphysical properties by many ancient cultures. In ancient Mexico, turquoise was reserved for the gods and could not be worn by mere mortals. In Asia, turquoise was considered as effective protection against the evil eye. In Tibet even today, turquoise is by far the most popular of all materials used for personal adornment, and still play an important part in religious ceremonies...

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The lore, beliefs and myths of turquoise not just date back to the ancient times, but some people still hold some of these beliefs today. Good Luck Charm? Because, over the millennia of its use, much of the world's supply of the stone has come from Persia, the number of superstitions surrounding Turquoise that originate from Persia and the surrounding area of the Middle East is great. To begin, Hebrew tradition states that Isaac opened the first mines in Persia. Having seen the reflection of the new moon in a stone of Turquoise, a person was believed to encounter good luck soon, according to Persian lore. Arabian superstition said it was a lucky stone and that it had good powers of benevolence. They also attributed the accumulation of wealth and prosperity with the stone...

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History of Turquoise

Turquoise is one of the oldest known gem materials. The Egyptians were mining turquoise in the Sinai as early as 5,500 BC. Turquoise was worn by Pharaohs and Aztec Kings. Its prized blue color, is so distinctive that its name is used to describe any color that resembles it. Pre-Columbian Indians used turquoise for beads and pendants. From,500 BC Burial grounds, in Central America and Mexico. Teeth were found decorated with turquoise. A tribute to early dentistry as well as a different idea for adornment. It was also extensively used around 200 BC, by both southwestern US Native Americans and by many of the Indian tribes in Mexico. The Anasazi and Hohokam mined turquoise...

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Turquoise Imitations
How does one select good-quality natural turquoise and not get caught by natural substitutes or the multitude of synthetics and imitations that have infiltrated the industry over the years? Turquoise is often dyed and stabilized with resins to produce a harder stone, which retains its color and polish. Reconstituted turquoise is made from small chips and "chalk" to which dyes and plastic resin is added. Pure turquoise is a relatively soft stone ranging between 5 and 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Most turquoise specimens are cryptocrystalline, meaning that the crystals can only be seen by...

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How to Tell Original Turquoise from Fake?
Of all the natural substitutes, there are a few common culprits. To distinguish between these and natural turquoise, it is always good to know a bit of gemology.Turquoise is often imitated by "fakes" such as the mineral chrysocolla. This is actually a part of the chalcedony group of stones, in which the mineral chrysocolla is finely disseminated, giving the chalcedony an intense medium blue green color...

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Back to 'All About Turquoise' Summary
Turquoise, the robin's egg blue gemstone worn by Pharaohs and Aztec Kings, is probably one of the oldest gemstones known. Yet, only its prized blue color, a color so distinctive that its name is used to describe any color that resembles it, results in its being used as a gemstone.  The true value of turquoise is in the beauty of the stone. Buy at the level you can afford and buy what speaks to you, what you find most attractive. There's no stone like turquoise, and rarely are two pieces alike...

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