Gemstone Highlight – Turqoise

How appropriate is it that we highlight the gemstone turquoise this fabulous month of December? It is, after all, if you were not aware, the December birthstone.

When people think about turquoise, some think that it is a greenish blue and some think bluish green, and they’re all right. The color of the gemstone can range between the two colors, like pictured here:

To make gemstones for jewelry, the turquoise is often polished, which protects the stone as well as makes it glisten. Inside of the stones, you might see shiny pyrite flakes and veins of black oxide.

A shinier looking specimen might look like this:

Each turquoise gemstone will have its own unique appeal.

Turquoise is quite a rare gemstone, and it has been prized since ancient times. (As a matter of fact, the name “turquoise” can be traced back to the 17th century.) However, due to its rarity, the gemstone has been devalued because there are so many synthetics and imitations, as well as different types of treatments in the current jewelry market.

Turquoise can be a range of hardness, the maximum hardness of the stone being equivalent to window glass.

If your birthday is in December, Happy Birthday to you, from BC Custom Jewelry!