Turquoise Jewelry
Late 19th Century French Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Garnet, Turquoise, Gold Plate, Brass
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Turquoise, 14k Gold
1960s European Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1960s European Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Victorian Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, White Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century European Retro Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century Egyptian Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
Late 20th Century Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Turquoise, Brass
Mid-20th Century Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
Late 20th Century Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Brass
20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Enamel
2010s French Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Yellow Gold
20th Century Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold
2010s Spanish Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 14k Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1960s Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Unknown Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, White Gold
1950s European Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 2000s Indian Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, 24k Gold
Late 20th Century French Artist Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
1950s Art Deco Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Brass, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Egyptian Revival Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 2000s American Renaissance Revival Turquoise Jewelry
Garnet, Ruby, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Tanzanite, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s European Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Garnet, Turquoise, Gold, 10k Gold
1960s Egyptian Egyptian Revival Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century French Turquoise Jewelry
White Diamond, Onyx, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Turquoise Jewelry
Onyx, Turquoise, 18k Gold
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.