Turquoise Jewelry
1980s British Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1870s Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 10k Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1960s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Vermeil
1970s Mexican Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Amber, Amethyst, Malachite, Onyx, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1960s French Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, Gold
2010s European Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Turquoise, Opal, Emerald, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, Platinum, 18k Gold
1960s Modern Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Romantic Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Modernist Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1950s Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1970s Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century English Victorian Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold
Mid-20th Century European Retro Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Turquoise Jewelry
Moonstone, Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Turquoise, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
20th Century Swiss Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Citrine, Coral, Emerald, Garnet, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sa...
1970s European Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Platinum
1960s European Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
White Diamond, Turquoise, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Art Deco Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Turquoise, Agate, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Swedish Modern Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
1970s American Native American Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Jade, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Mixed Metal
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Mexican Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Vermeil, Brass, 22k Gold
20th Century Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modernist Turquoise Jewelry
Garnet, Turquoise, Onyx, Agate, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver, Silver, Yello...
2010s Swiss Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Platinum
1880s British Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
1880s British Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Victorian Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Artisan Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Silver
1960s Retro Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Diamond, Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 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.