Turquoise Jewelry

Turquoise Gemstones: deep blues and greens admired for centuries

When Venetian merchants travelled to Turkey in the 16th century, they were captivated by the wonderful blue hue of a rare gem traded in the local markets. Sourced from mines in Persia, the gem became known as Turk's Stone, and today, we know it from the French name Turquoise.

And even centuries before, Turquoise captivated jewelry makers and royalty alike — indeed King Tutankhamen's golden mask is cloaked in magnificent lapis lazuli and turquoise gemstones. Ancient legend tells us that turquoise jewelry could protect its wearer, and turquoise was thought to change color with the wearer's health and protect her from harm.

Our fascination with turquoise jewelry is perhaps based on the gem's ability to conjure in our minds the colors of the sky and sea together with a wonderful depth and intrigue.

Turquoise is often paired with other opaque stones — often jade, malachite or carnelian for a rich presentation.

Ross-Simons
Turquoise Collection

Our jewelry buyers and designers travel the world to bring you our favorite turquoise rings, turquoise pendants, and turquoise bracelets. Browsing the Ross-Simons' Web Site is a wonderful experience as the turquoise collection changes often as we look to stay up to date with the latest looks and fashionable designs.

TURQUOISE: Typically polished and featuring a cabochon cut, turquoise is prized for its depth of color and the visual interest found in veins of matrix stone. Prized as a gemstone for 1000's of years, legend holds that turquoise has protective qualities. More about colored gemstones.

Ross-Simons'
Turquoise Jewelry

Ross-Simons's jewelry team looks for turquoise stones that complement the jewelry design. For example, many of the pieces in our southwestern turquoise collection have lively veins of matrix to add character and interest to the jewelry. Or we might search for a deep blue turquoise stone if we look to evoke the essence of Mediterranean Sea in a turquoise ring. Of course, we are delighted by sterling silver turquoise jewelry as the white tones and natural patina of silver are a wonderful match for the gem's colorations. Turquoise is sourced from mines in Iran and the Middle East, China, Australia and the Southwestern United States.

Turquoise Jewelry Care & Handling

Turquoise allure derives from its deep sky blue (from copper) or rich aqua greens (from iron). Turquoise is a relatively soft gem (5 to 6 on the Mohs scale) and takes well to carving and intricate etchings. Because it is soft, proper care should be taken to avoid damaging your turquoise jewelry. Also it's quite porous, which makes it susceptible to staining from grease, cosmetics and perfumes. Care should also be taken to keep your turquoise jewels out of direct sunlight when you store them as they can fade. Clean with a soft cloth. Wrap turquoise necklaces, rings and jewelry in a soft cloth or keep them safely in your Ross-Simons presentation box.