Mesopotamia even recorded the use of turquoise! Inlays for murals and beads for jewelry were some of the most common uses. Medieval Europe used the gem thanks to a gift from the Persians, who set an example of placing it in gold which is still quite popular today. The earliest documented mining of turquoise in Ancient Egypt occurred around 3,000 BCE. The longer any material has been mined and used, the more depleted its supply has become. Recognizing how long turquoise has been in use throughout the world paints a more accurate picture when considering its value. Additional sites for turquoise include Tibet, China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Iran (also known as Persia), and Mexico. This makes the Southwestern United States such a prime piece of realty for its mining. Elevations of about 3,000-8,5000 feet are the best place to look. Turquoise derives from dry and arid climates. The fact that it is generally very porous does not help the matter either and can interfere with jewelry making and maintenance of pieces. Not only does this directly determine wearability, but it proves that turquoise is, in essence, a fairly soft material to work with. Hardness of the gem can range anywhere from a consistency that resembles chalk to a five or six on the Mohs scale. Luminescence: Existent, greenish-yellow to blue in Long Waves and not moving in Short Waves and X-Rays.Cleavage: Not found in usable, larger gems.Some of the basic properties shared by all turquoise include: Varying levels of each mineral can create incredibly different colors in the resulting gem. Copper creates the blue hue, chromium and vanadium add green, and iron contributes yellow. It occurs when aluminum, phosphorus, copper, and a source of water come together. Its chemical formula is CuAl 6 (PO 4 ) 4 (OH) 8 ♴H 2 O. Turquoise is a combination of hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate, classified as a gemstone. Here are some of our best tips and tricks for determining turquoise value: Formation and Foundations We know how important it is that we share these tools with consumers so they are aware of what they are buying so that everyone can have true pieces to treasure.

Here at Mark Henry Jewelry, we are committed to providing the highest quality turquoise based on the strictest standards. The truth may be obscured by imitation blues that have been floating around jewelry communities for decades. While it may seem simple that turquoise is primarily judged based on its color saturation, this understanding can become complicated.

However, it can be slightly more difficult to weed out less valuable pieces of this December birthstone because it is so easy to emulate and also so well-known.įine gems like alexandrite are typically easier to differentiate based on their value when it comes down to how well they are able to change their hues in different lighting. There are numerous ways to test a certain gem’s value, from laboratory analysis to visual checkpoints. When it comes to fine jewelry, the most important characteristic to consider is the quality of the gem being used.

Gem quality turquoise