Turquoise Lore

Turquoise is a beautiful gem that has a rich and colorful history. It has been worn around the world, and throughout its existence it has been instilled with many magical and mythical properties. Let us examine the turquoise lore.

In hundreds of cultures across the world the beautiful gem has been viewed as a holy stone. Imagine you were an Aztec citizen. If you were called to palace, hopefully for a reason other than sacrifice, and you were to meet the king, you would likely see turquoise in his headdress. Now shift gears in your imagination to the other side of the world and imagine yourself astride your horse preparing for war on a Persian battle field. You draw your sword and laid into the hilt is a turquoise stone, believed to hold protective powers while you battle. 

Now we go to Egypt. Here you may receive a strand of turquoise beads, which is believed to ward off deaths cold hand. 

Another old myth is that if the color in the turquoise stone changes, then you are about to die. The more likely explanation, and less scary, is that the stone is reacting with the oils in your skin. Turquoise is a soft and sensitive stone, in fact just reaching under 6 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Softer turquoises are covered in a resin coating to preserve their colors. One must be careful when they are cleaning silver and turquoise jewelry so as to not damage it. 

New age healers use it to help with skeletal, digestive, and respiratory problems. It is said to enhance creativity and energy levels. And similar to the blarney stone, turquoise is reputed to help those that have trouble speaking in public. 

Turquoise makes a great gift for a businessman since it is a symbol of wealth. It strengthens friendships. Increases empathy, and is said to increase a person’s honesty. I wonder if Abraham Lincoln wore a lot of turquoise….

Now whether you buy into all the mythical magical properties of turquoise, one thing is unquestionable. The stones beauty will help it continue to be a staple of the jewelry world.