Turquoise Jewelry
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, Gold, 22k Gold
Early 17th Century Greek Byzantine Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s American Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Cultured Pearl, Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold
15th Century and Earlier Afghan Byzantine Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise Matrix, 18k Gold
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Copper
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Copper
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver, Copper
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
1960s American Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Turquoise Jewelry
18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
19th Century British Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Aquamarine, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s British Victorian Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Garnet, Turquoise, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Tourmaline, Diamond, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s European Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Gold
20th Century Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Turkish Byzantine Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Carnelian, Quartz, Turquoise, Gold Plate, Gilt Metal
2010s Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Amethyst, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Greek Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold
Early 17th Century Greek Byzantine Antique Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Enamel
1960s Italian Byzantine Vintage Turquoise Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century French Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Sapphire, Turquoise, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Byzantine Turquoise Jewelry
Agate, Carnelian, Coral, Garnet, Turquoise, Gold Plate
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.