Sterling Matrix Turquoise
Late 20th Century Brooches
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Multi-gemstone, Turquoise Matrix, Turquoise, Opal, Silver, Gold, Yellow ...
2010s American Contemporary Modern Bracelets
Turquoise Matrix, Pearl, Multi-gemstone, Turquoise, Freshwater Pearl, Op...
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Jade, Turquoise Matrix, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
Agate, Coral, Opal, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Turquoise Matrix, Turquoise, Freshwater Pearl, Lapis Laz...
2010s Australian Artisan Link Necklaces
Onyx, Quartz, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Other, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Artisan Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Topaz, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
2010s American Artist Link Necklaces
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Quartz, Freshwater Pearl, Cultured Pearl, M...
2010s Australian Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Topaz, Pearl, Moonstone, Jade, Aquamarine, ...
2010s Australian Artisan Chain Necklaces
Tourmaline, Other, Turquoise Matrix, Turquoise, Spinel, Quartz, Onyx, Cr...
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Turquoise, Yellow Gold
1990s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Citrine, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Quartz, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Silv...
Vintage 1950s Mexican Choker Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Silver, Sterling S...
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Turquoise, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Unknown Native American Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Onyx, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Solitaire Rings
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Solitaire Rings
Turquoise, Pyrite
Vintage 1950s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
1990s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s American Native American Fashion Rings
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Amber, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Silver, Sterli...
Vintage 1980s American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Modernist Multi-Strand Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Tourmaline, Quartz, Opal, Multi-gemstone, K...
Vintage 1970s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Link Necklaces
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise Matrix, Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
Mid-20th Century American Native American Band Rings
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
1990s Unknown Brooches
Amethyst, Carnelian, Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Link Necklaces
Coral, Multi-gemstone, Opal, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Agate, Amber, ...
Early 20th Century American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Link Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Other, Turquoise Matrix, Turquoise, Quartz, Natural Pe...
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold...
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Multi-gemstone, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Turquoise...
2010s Australian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Gold Plate, Yellow Gold, Ster...
2010s Australian Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Chalcedony, Chrysoberyl, Chrysophrase, Citrine, Crystal, Multi...
Sterling Matrix Turquoise For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Sterling Matrix Turquoise?
The Legacy of Turquoise in Jewelry Design
The thought of vintage and antique turquoise jewelry often conjures up images of striking Navajo bracelets and necklaces worn with a denim shirt and cowboy boots. This all-American look has been celebrated by fashion designers like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger on their runways and in ad campaigns. In the October 2016 issue of Vogue magazine, Tom Ford said he only wears turquoise jewelry at his Santa Fe ranch. So what is it about this gorgeous blue-green stone that makes us wish that we were born in December?
It’s not surprising that turquoise is abundant in New Mexico and Arizona because, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), it needs to be in “dry and barren regions where acidic, copper-rich groundwater seeps downward and reacts with minerals that contain phosphorus and aluminum.
Turquoise is not found in a single crystal but is a combination of microcrystals. Its appearance, waxy and opaque, is attributed to its structure and composition. “It’s an aggregate of microscopic crystals that form a solid mass. If the crystals are packed closely together, the material is less porous, so it has a finer texture. Fine-textured turquoise has an attractive, waxy luster when it’s polished. Turquoise with a less-dense crystal structure has higher porosity and coarser texture, resulting in a dull luster when it’s polished,” notes the GIA. Since no one wants to set a dull piece of turquoise, porous turquoise is often treated to make the stone more attractive.
In the United States, there have been discoveries of turquoise from 200 B.C. It is not just loose turquoise stones that have been found, but entire suites of jewelry from prehistoric times. In the late 19th-century, the Navajo Indians, who learned silversmithing from the Spanish, started to make beads out of turquoise and eventually combined it with silver around the 1880s. Initially this jewelry was for ceremonial purposes, but it became fashionable once the tourism in the Southwest picked up in the beginning of the 20th century.
Find antique and vintage turquoise rings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories on 1stDibs.