Pendant Description
Green Multi Turquoise cross Sterling Silver Pendant
SubCategory: Pendant Gift from Kimlud Jewelry Collection
Material: Genuine Sterling Silver (.925 silver)
Stone(s): 4 pieces top grade authentic turquoise
Overall Dimension (including bail): 4.25 x 3.5 x 0.3 inches
Inner Bail Diameter: 9 mm
Weight: 60 grams
Stamp/Mark: Fine Sterling Silver

Turquoise
Turquoise: Beautiful turquoise is a phosphate mineral popular all over the world. Mined since 5000 BC, it is one of the first gemstones known to be used by humans. Color variation from sky-blue to medium green is affected by differing amounts of copper and iron, more copper giving the stone a bluer color and more iron a greener one. Beautiful light blue turquoise is mined in Northern Iran and other varieties occur in Mexico, the United States and elsewhere.

Turquoise: "Pierre Turquois" means "Turkish stone" in French. Turquoise is a December Birthstones. It may have been a mistaken, Middle Ages Europe belief that the stone originated in Turkey. The first specimens to arrive in Europe were actually most likely mined in the Sinai Peninsula or Persia. Popular in some regions for the past 6,000 years, turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of alumina, containing a little copper. It has a blue, or bluish green color. The brightest blue shades are favored. The finest turquoise comes from Persia. Egyptians mined turquoise in the Sinai Peninsula as far back as 5500 BC. Queen Zer's tomb, unearthed in 1900, revealed a turquoise and gold bracelet, one of the oldest surviving items of jewelry yet discovered. Today, turquoise is primarily mined in Arizona and New Mexico, USA; Australia; Afghanistan; and Iran. Turquoise continues to enjoy considerable popularity as a traditional gemstone in Egypt, Iran, Mongolia, Tibet, China, The United States, and Mexico. Today, in the United States, turquoise is commonly associated with Native American culture, especially Zuni and Navajo traditions, although the majority of turquoise jewelry purchased in the United States is actually made in Thailand and China. Legends hold that turquoise warns its faithful wearer of illness and danger by changing color, brings happiness and good fortune, and that it also protects one from falling (especially from falling off horses). In ancient Mexico, mortals could not wear turquoise; it was reserved for the gods and as a tribute to the gods. In parts of Asia, turquoise was believed to protect the wearer from the evil eye.