Turquoise is the most sought after opaque gemstone in the market. Turquoise jewelry has always held buyers in awe of its beautiful shades. The green and blue hues attracts most people making it a well loved gemstone. Myth has it that the stone gets its blue from the blue of the sky and therefore it has also come to be known as the sky stone. The truth however is far from this. The color of the turquoise depends upon the presence of certain materials in it during its formation. The blue is derived because of the presence of a large amount of copper, while the green comes from the presence of aluminum. The rare yellow turquoise however indicates the presence of zinc. Turquoise jewelry is most often made from the blue stone.

The composition of turquoise

Like all other gemstones turquoise too is formed in rocks rich in mineral content. However this stone is soft and porous as it contains a substantial amount of water. Some stone even have dark marks present on them. These are remnants of the rock from which they were formed. Some of these stones also have fine lines that resemble a spider's web. These are also marks from the rocks that the stones originate from. These marked turquoises are called spider webbed turquoise. Because the stone is porous and soft it is usually stabilized by external means in order to bring out its best color and so that it retains its color for a longer period of time.

Turquoise jewelry designs

While turquoise jewelry is well loved, some of the most alluring designs are those that have patterns and motifs that resemble original Native American traditional art. It is believed that turquoise was used by the Native Americans for a variety of things. Turquoise jewelry imitating this sect of people is well loved and is available at fairly reasonable prices.

Imitation turquoise

Natural turquoise is extremely expensive. This is perhaps because of its demand in the market. It is because of this that most turquoise jewelry today is made from stimulated turquoise. Stimulated turquoise is nothing but turquoise that has undergone various processes to make it affordable to the general public. However before buying any piece of turquoise jewelry it is always advisable to as the jeweler about the kind of treatment that the stone has undergone. The jeweler is obliged under the law to divulge this information to you. A certificate stating the origin and authenticity of the turquoise jewelry and the stone in question is a must. The fact that the stone is so popular has also made it an easy target for it to be imitated. You will find a large number of fake turquoise jewelry pieces in the market and you should not be fooled.

An excellent gifting idea

A last of all because of its eternal charm, turquoise jewelry make for an excellent gift. Turquoise jewelry is a prized possession for all those who own it. What better way of giving an exclusive gift than a beautifully embellished turquoise and silver necklace?