Sky blue that sometimes drifts toward sea green, crossed with fine brown veins like rivers on a map seen from above. Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones people have ever worn. From the pharaohs to Navajo silversmiths, it has traveled across continents without losing any of its appeal, and it's still one of the most recognizable stones in turquoise jewelry. Here's what you need to know: its geology, where its name comes from, its history, its meaning and properties, and how to wear it and care for it.
What Is Turquoise?
Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate. Copper gives it its blue. When iron gets into the mix, the color shifts toward green. It forms close to the surface in dry regions, where rainwater has slowly dissolved copper-rich rock. Its brown or black veins, called the matrix, are what's left of the host rock it formed in. Some stones have none at all. Others are covered in it like a spider's web.
It rates 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, and it's porous. In other words, it's a soft stone that needs a gentle touch. The historic deposits are in Iran, whose pure blue turquoise set the standard for centuries, and in the Sinai. Today, most turquoise comes from the American Southwest, China and Mexico.
A quick word on what you're buying. Because it's soft and porous, most turquoise on the market is stabilized: infused with a resin that hardens the stone and locks in its color. That's a common, accepted practice. You'll also find reconstituted turquoise, made from turquoise powder bonded together, and imitations such as blue-dyed howlite or magnesite, which can look very convincing. And "African turquoise" isn't turquoise at all, despite the name. It's a speckled blue-green jasper. Our product pages always state exactly what the stone is. If you're not sure, just ask us.
Where Does the Name Turquoise Come From?
The name comes from the medieval French pierre turquoise, meaning "Turkish stone." It didn't come from Turkey, though. It reached Europe from the mines of Persia along trade routes that ran through the Ottoman Empire. So it's a stone named for the road it traveled, not the place it was found.
Turquoise History and Legends
People have worn turquoise for more than five thousand years. The Egyptians mined it in the Sinai and set it in their jewelry and ornaments. You can see it inlaid in Tutankhamun's funerary mask. In Persia, it covered the domes of great monuments and the hilts of daggers, and people said it changed color to warn its wearer of danger.
On the other side of the world, the peoples of the North American Southwest, the Navajo, Zuni and Pueblo, made it their favorite stone. They linked it to the sky and to water and set it in silver, creating a style of jewelry that became famous. The Aztecs inlaid it in mosaics on their most precious masks. Wherever it went, turquoise was the stone that protects you and connects you to something bigger.
Turquoise Meaning and Symbolism
With the colors of the sky and water, turquoise has long been the stone of protection and travel. It was the stone you gave to someone leaving on a journey, so they'd come home safe. It also stands for calm and communication, because its blue echoes the color of the throat chakra. That's the chakra it's most often linked to, the center of expression and listening.
It's the December birthstone, and it's often named as a stone for Sagittarius, the great traveler of the zodiac. You'll find it in our Sagittarius jewelry selection.
Turquoise Properties in Crystal Lore
In crystal lore, turquoise is the traveler's stone. It's the protective companion you keep on you when you're on the move, said to watch over whoever wears it and see them safely home. Like the other blue throat stones, it's also known for bringing calm and helping you speak more openly and peacefully.
As a stone of the sky, it's linked to luck and friendship too. It's a favorite gift, and people say turquoise shows its colors best when someone gave it to you. Keep in mind that all of this is symbolic: turquoise is a reminder you wear, not a promise. Find it in our protection collection, among our pieces for self-expression and in our good luck charm ideas.
Turquoise is a stone of protection and calm, the one you give to someone about to set out on the road.
How to Wear Turquoise
Turquoise looks great close to your face, where its blue brightens every skin tone. For your finger, the turquoise and silver-tone ring nods to the silverwork of the American Southwest, while the boho turquoise ring is made for travel. For your wrist, the African turquoise bracelet with its tree of life picks up the same blue-green tones. As its product page says, it's a jasper in turquoise colors, not true turquoise. Close to your heart, the turquoise and tiger's eye orgonite pendant pairs blue with gold.
Browse all our turquoise jewelry to find the piece that suits you.
Looking for something specific? Check out our turquoise bracelets.
Crystals That Pair Well With Turquoise
Turquoise works well with other blue stones and with warm stones that make it pop. A few favorite pairings:
- Turquoise and lapis lazuli: sky blue and midnight blue, two throat stones for self-expression.
- Turquoise and amazonite: two watery blue-greens that make a calming pair.
- Turquoise and tiger's eye: blue and gold, a warm contrast linked to protection.
- Turquoise and howlite: blue and veined white, two stones of calm you'll often see on the same bracelet.
To get your combinations right, see our guide to crystal compatibility.
How to Clean and Care for Turquoise
Turquoise is soft and porous, so handle it gently. Keep it away from long contact with water, perfume, lotion and household cleaners, which can dull it or turn it green over time. A soft, dry cloth is all you need to clean it. If necessary, use a barely damp cloth and dry it right away. Store it on its own, away from harder stones that could scratch it, and out of direct sunlight.
To recharge it, set it on a selenite plate or a quartz cluster, as crystal lore suggests, instead of getting it wet. You'll find all our tips in how to cleanse and care for your crystals.
Turquoise at a Glance
- Family: phosphates (copper aluminum phosphate)
- Hardness: 5 to 6 (Mohs scale)
- Crystal system: triclinic
- Sources: Iran, Egypt (Sinai), United States, China, Mexico
- Color: sky blue to sea green, often veined with brown
- Meaning: protection, travel, calm
- Chakra: throat
- Birthstone: December
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if turquoise is real?
Natural turquoise has slightly uneven color, and its matrix runs into the stone, not just across the surface. Dyed howlite often has a blue that's too even and very regular gray veins. If you're unsure, check our product pages: they always say what the stone is.
What is African turquoise?
Despite the name, it isn't turquoise. It's a speckled blue-green jasper mined in Africa, with colors that look like turquoise. It's a natural stone, just from a different family.
What does turquoise do?
Turquoise is known as a stone of protection, travel and calm, linked to peaceful, open communication. These meanings have been handed down over centuries, and they're symbolic: something to carry with you, not a promise.
Can turquoise get wet?
As little as possible. Because it's porous, long contact with water, lotion or perfume can dull it or change its color. A soft cloth is all it needs.
Is turquoise the December birthstone?
Yes. On the modern birthstone list, turquoise is one of the stones for December, which makes it an easy birthday gift for anyone born that month.
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