Turquoise Jewelry
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s North American Native American Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Edwardian Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 10k Gold
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Retro Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s Italian Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s Hong Kong Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Diamond, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Thai Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Peridot, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1960s Italian Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1950s Art Deco Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Mixed Metal
2010s Thai Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Peridot, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Turquoise
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s French Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Zircon, Silver, Sterling Silver
1870s European Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century Mexican Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Chinese Anglo-Indian Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Enamel, Gilt Metal
20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s Italian Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
White Diamond, Turquoise, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
1860s British High Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Turquoise, Silver, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold
1940s Swedish Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s North American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Tiger's Eye, Turquoise, Silver Plate, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Arts and Crafts Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s French Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century British Victorian Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Retro Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Opal, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Blue Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold
1940s Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Malachite, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Indian Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold
20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Hong Kong Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 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.