An introduction to Persian Turquoise



Turquoise is among the oldest known gemstones, which graced the necks of Egyptian Pharaohs. It has been mined since 3,200 BC. Historically turquoise was used for beads by the Egyptians and combined with other ornamental stones. It was inlaid in gold by Sumerians and Egyptians to produce very sophisticated articles of Jewelry.

 

Turquoise is an opaque, light to dark blue or blue-green gem. The finest color is an intense blue. This gem stone may contain narrow veins of other materials either isolated or as a network. They are usually black, brown, or yellowish-brown in color. Known as the matrix, these veins of color are sometimes in the form of an intricate pattern. Persian turquoise which contains these veins is called veined turquoise.

The colors of turquoise cover a far wider range than most people think. In fact colors often vary considerably within various locations at the same mine. If the mix has more copper, the turquoise will be colored in the blue range; the addition of iron adds tones more in the green range; if more aluminum than normal is present, the stones are in the green to white range. The addition of zinc yields a yellow-green color and adds hardness to the stone.

 

Persian turquoise is known as the jewel of the Orient due to its poperties. It is the finest and most intense blue turquoise in the world. This special gem stone was found for thousands of years  in Persian and the term "Persian Turquoise" became synonymous with the finest quality. It came from several mines in today´s Iran. The stones from all mines show a great color variation. Many mines were worked around Nishapur, close to the old caravan routes.

Cutting and Polishing of Persian Turquoise


Due to persuasive evidence these mines were heavily worked tat the beginning of the 10th century, but there are also a few evidences that some of the mines near the surface might be exploited as early as 2100 B.C.

The massive robin's egg blue Persian turquoise is used in making jewelry and creating mosaics, inlays or overlays that have adorned numerous monuments over the centuries. It takes a fine polish and does not lose color with time. One of the historical remarkable  Tiaras was princess Margaret's Persian Turquoise Tiara often known as the Triumph of Love Tiara.


Turquoise is reputed to heal all kinds of ailments. New age healers use it for the skeletal, digestive and respiratory systems. It is said to help remove toxins from smoking and other pollutants from the body. It is believed to bring inner awareness, help strengthen friendships, aid those who have trouble speaking in public, and improve empathy and honesty.

 

 

Persian Turquoise Types


 

 

Turquoise can also come in varying grades, with the higher-quality generally being darker in color, harder and with very little porosity. Often the stones of a lighter color have a tendency to be softer and more porous, and this may give them the potential to change color with wear - however this is not always the case.

Most Persian Turquoise, offered at very high prices, is pale and almost always set in gold. It is impossibly difficult to find enough top level Gem-Grade Turquoise to set in gold on a large scale as this highest grade of material is actually much rarer than diamonds. World wide, only about 1/10 of one percent of all the Turquoise mined is of a high enough grade that can be set in gold.

 Persian veined turquoise -Royal Blue- matrixed turquoise from Nishabur - Nishapur

 

Always remember that the 'best' color of turquoise is largely a matter of personal choice. Most turquoise authorities in the world would agree that the ideal color for turquoise is a bold copper blue shade often called "Royal Blue". It is the most vivid and intense of all the pure blue turquoise shades. It is rare - some mines, even good mines, may never produce a single carat of it.