Natural Arizona Kingman Turquoise 16 inch bead strands. Beautiful Green to Blue color 5 to 6mm highly polished nuggets with some brown to coppery matrix throughout.
These strands are all hand cut and processed here in the United States. Notice how beautifully even and consistent the bead cuts are.
If we can assist you in choosing strands or you have any questions about color or size, please do not hesitate to contact us for further clarification. We have taken great care in separating the strands by color and size so you will not be surprised by what is delivered.
Turquoise is one of the official Birthstones for the month of December as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912 and the accepted gem for the fifth and eleventh wedding anniversaries. Turquoise is also the Planetary stone for Aquarius, Taurus and Sagittarius.
A sacred stone for the North American Indians as well as the Tibetans, it is often used by shamans in rituals and ceremonies. It is said to promote mental and spiritual clarity & expansion; and to enhance wisdom, trust, kindness and understanding. Turquoise is considered to be gender specific whereas Blue Turquoise is male, representative of Father Sky; and Green Turquoise is female, representative of Mother Earth.
Turquoise is a valuable mineral and is one of the most valuable non-transparent minerals used in the jewelry trade. It has been mined by early Egyptians since at least 6000 BC. Most specimens are cryptocrystalline, meaning that the crystals can only be seen by a microscope. The finest Turquoise has come from Iran but is challenged by some southwestern United States specimens. Poorer quality Turquoise is often dyed or color stabilized with coatings of various resins. Stabilization (without color enhancement) is an accepted treatment for cutting cabochons and inlay work as it hardens the mineral and helps with body oil absorption.
Turquoise was the first stone in recorded history of man to be used as a gem according to the Library of Congress. The name Turquoise originated in the thirteenth century and describes one of the oldest known gemstones. The name comes from a French expression 'Pierre tourques' or 'Turkish stone', apparently related to the fact that is was brought to Europe from the Eastern Mediterranean by Levantine traders, more commonly known as Turks.
Turquoise has been used as a valuable ornament for ages and was used by the Egyptians thousands of years ago. The Aztecs mined Turquoise in an area now known as New Mexico; and in addition, a significant amount of Turquoise comes from Arizona, California and Nevada as well. Smaller deposits can also be found in Alabama, Colorado, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia.
The color is, of course, turquoise, but its range of color varies from green and greenish blue to sky blue shades. Hardness of the stone ranges between 5 - 6. The color can change with exposure to skin oils if the stone has not been stabilized and therefore, jewelry should be wiped clean to deter this.
Turquoise is sacred to Native American's and was carved in the shape of animals and birds. These carvings were placed in the Indians tombs to attract beneficial spirits and to guard the dead. Turquoise was also used by medicine men for healing and by warriors who placed Turquoise on the end of their bows to insure accurate shots. Its powers include protection, healing, courage, friendship, and luck. Turquoise is said to relax the mind, and ease mental tension.
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