Turquoise Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Thai Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Thai Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s Art Deco Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Mixed Metal
2010s Turkish Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Cultured Pearl, Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold
2010s Thai Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Peridot, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Early Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 2000s American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s American Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Cultured Pearl, 22k Gold
19th Century Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Coral, Jade, Onyx, Pearl, Tourmaline, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yel...
2010s American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Turquoise Jewelry
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Thai Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Peridot, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Hong Kong Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Gold, Enamel
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century French Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Artist Turquoise Jewelry
Peridot, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Indian Baroque Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century Danish Romantic Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, Platinum
2010s Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Gold Plate
Late 20th Century Thai Retro Turquoise Jewelry
Tanzanite, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Brass
2010s American Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Anglo-Indian Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turquoise Jewelry
Quartz, Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
1970s American Artisan Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Mexican Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Onyx, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage and Antique Turquoise Jewelry
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.