Turquoise Jewelry

The Turquoise used in our Native American Indian Jewelry is mined in the American Southwest. The Native American Jewelry Artists use Turquoise in their jewelry from mines in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico.

Turquoise is a semiprecious stone found in many arid regions of the world and used for over 1,500 years in making turquoise jewelry. In pre-Hispanic times Southwestern Indians mined turquoise with stone hammers and picks made of antler. Fire was used to crack bedrock containing the Turquoise. The largest of these early mines was near Cerillos, New Mexico, near the present day Santa Fe.  It extended 200 feet underground and was 300 feet wide in places. Turquoise from pre-Columbian mines in the Southwest was widely traded, some traveling as far as the Aztec Empire in Mexico.

The colors of turquoise range from a deep green to a light blue. Most of the stones will have a matrix marking which will vary from stone to stone. Both color and matrix markings are a matter of personal preference. True collectors appreciate the variety and will own several pieces of turquoise jewelry with different colors and markings.

This is an example of Nevada Turquoise. This beautiful Turquoise Necklace

was created by Connie Cortiz. She is a Santo Domingo Artist. All the beads in her Turquoise Jewelry are hand drilled and polished.

Here is an example of Kingman Turquoise. Mined in Kingman Arizona.

This bracelet is created by Navajo Artist H. Spencer. As you can see the workmanship in his Turquoise Jewelry is very detailed.

This is an example of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise. Mined in Globe Arizona.

These beautiful Turquoise Earrings were created by Zuni Artist Cheryl Bean. Zuni Artists are known for their fine petit point work in their Turquoise Jewelry.

Care of your Turquoise Jewelry.

Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, steamers, chemicals or heat on your Turquoise Jewelry. Clean your Turquoise Jewelry with warm soapy water and dry with a soft cloth. Then let it air dry. Keeping your Turquoise Jewelry set in Sterling Silver, in an air tight plastic bag will help to avoid tarnish, when you are not wearing it.

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