Turquoise Jewelry
20th Century French Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Gold
20th Century French Turquoise Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
1960s English Modern Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, Platinum
Early 2000s French Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Platinum
2010s French Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, White Diamond, Diamond, Enamel, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold
1990s French Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, Rose Gold
20th Century French Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, Rose Gold
2010s Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century French Artist Turquoise Jewelry
Citrine, Turquoise, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Coral, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Sapphire, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Platinum
1980s American Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
1960s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Platinum
1960s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
1960s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century French Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Turquoise, Platinum
1960s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Ruby, Turquoise, Amber, Chrysophrase, Coral, Diamond, Hematite, Lapis La...
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k 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.