In Russia, turquoise symbolizes love.

Ancient Greek young women wore turquoise as a symbol of purity.

Ancient cultures believed in the turquoise stone’s ability to protect, promote tranquility, and encourage enduring love – all qualities that turquoise is still associated with today.

Chemically, turquoise is a hydrated copper/aluminum phosphate of aggregate, cryptocrystalline structure.

Although rare, yellow turquoise can be found if there are traces of zinc in mines.

According to the modern birthstone chart turquoise is the birthstone for December.

There are many superstitions associated with turquoise most of which relate to its tendency to fade or change color.

When it comes to color of a turquoise stone, Copper is the chemical element responsible for blue whilst green is caused by impurities of iron.

Turquoise was recorded as a color in 1573. It’s described as 70% blue 30% green.

In the bible turquoise is said to have been the first stone in the second row of the high priest breastplate.

It’s very likely that turquoise has been the first gemstone to have been copied.

The funerary mask of King Tutankhamun is the most iconic artefact featuring turquoise.

In Persia the roof of mosques was covered with turquoise as it symbolized the connection to the heavens.

In Tibet and Nepal turquoise is known as the ‘sky stone.’

Aztecs cherished turquoise for its protective power and used it on ceremonial masks, knives, and shields.

Apache Indians believed that attaching turquoise to bows (and later, firearms) improved the accuracy of hunters.

Native American shamans used turquoise in sacred ceremonies to commune with the spirit of the sky.

Persians wore turquoise gemstone jewelry around their necks and in their turbans; believing it offered protection by changing color to warn of pending doom. (Turquoise can, in fact, fade if exposed to sunlight or solvents.)

The word “turquoise” comes from the French pierre tourques for “Turkish stone.”

The earliest evidence of turquoise gemstones comes from ancient Egyptian tombs.

Egyptians called turquoise mefkat, which meant “joy” and “delight.”

Turquoise covered palace domes in Persia because its sky-blue color and its purity represented heaven.

Believing turquoise guaranteed protection, Persians adorned their daggers and horses’ bridles with it.

The Persian name for turquoise, pirouzeh or firouzeh, means “victorious.”