Few gemstones carry as much history, or as much heart, as turquoise. For around six thousand years it has been worn by pharaohs, warriors, travelers and queens, treasured for a color that seems to hold the sky itself and for its promise to protect whoever wears it. Today turquoise is as captivating as ever, bringing instant radiance to gold, a free spirit to silver and meaning to every piece it touches.
In this guide we share everything you need to know about turquoise: what it is, what it means, where it comes from, how to choose and style it, and how to care for your turquoise jewelry so it stays luminous for years to come.
What Is Turquoise?
Turquoise is a mineral that forms slowly, deep in the earth, as water seeps through copper rich rock. Copper gives the stone its signature blue, while traces of iron draw it toward green. The result is an opaque gem in every shade from soft sky blue to deep teal and vivid green.
Many turquoise stones carry a matrix: delicate veins of the surrounding rock that run through the blue in brown, black or golden tones. Some stones show a fine, lacy web of lines, while others are a clear, uninterrupted blue. No two are ever alike, which is why no two turquoise pieces look exactly the same.
Even the name tells a story. "Turquoise" comes from the French pierre turquoise, meaning "Turkish stone," because the gem first reached Europe along trade routes that passed through Turkey.
The Meaning of Turquoise
Across continents and centuries, turquoise has been loved for the same gifts: protection, healing, good fortune and a deep sense of calm. Few stones have been so universally cherished.
A Stone of Protection
Turquoise is one of the oldest protective talismans in the world. Ancient Egyptians placed it in the jewelry and tombs of royalty to guard them in this life and the next. In the American Southwest it has long been worn as a shield against harm and a bridge between earth and sky. Its luminous blue also lives on in the evil eye tradition, where so many protective amulets glow in this same radiant shade.
The Traveler's Stone
Turquoise has always been the companion of those on the move. According to old lore, horsemen tied turquoise to their bridles to keep them from falling, and travelers carried it for a safe journey and a happy return. That is why turquoise remains a beloved gift for anyone beginning a new chapter or setting off on an adventure. Our Safe Passage Coin & Turquoise Hammered Gold Necklace was designed around exactly this idea, pairing a turquoise cabochon with coin charms on hammered gold.
Calm, Healing and Friendship
Turquoise is believed to soothe the mind, release negative energy and restore balance, which is why it is so often called a stone of healing. It is also a symbol of friendship and loyalty, traditionally given to someone you hold dear. In Persia, where the stone is called firouzeh, a word linked to victory, it was worn for strength and good fortune.
Where Does Turquoise Come From?
Turquoise forms in dry, sun baked landscapes, and the world's most celebrated sources share that desert character. Each region gives its stones a personality of their own.
- Egypt (Sinai Peninsula): Home to some of the oldest turquoise mines on earth, worked by the ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago.
- Iran (Persia): The mines near Nishapur have produced turquoise for well over two thousand years and are famous for a pure, even sky blue often called "Persian blue."
- The American Southwest: Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico are home to legendary mines, from Kingman and Bisbee to the now closed Sleeping Beauty mine. Southwestern turquoise ranges from bright blue to green, often with striking matrix, and sits at the heart of Native American jewelry traditions.
- China: One of the largest producers of turquoise today, especially from Hubei province, known for blue to green stones that often carry a dark, web like matrix.
Origin shapes a stone's color and character, but the right turquoise is ultimately the one that speaks to you.
Turquoise: The December Birthstone
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), turquoise is the traditional birthstone for December and the gem of the 11th wedding anniversary. That makes turquoise jewelry a deeply meaningful gift for a December birthday or an anniversary milestone, and a beautiful way to wish someone protection and good fortune on any day of the year.
How to Choose Turquoise Jewelry
Color
Turquoise spans a rich spectrum, from airy robin's egg blue to deep teal and earthy green. Bright sky blue is the most classic and widely coveted, but greener stones have a soulful beauty all their own. Choose the shade that makes your heart beat a little faster.
Matrix
Do you love a clean, luminous field of blue, or a stone alive with veining? Matrix is a natural part of turquoise, never a flaw. A fine spiderweb pattern gives a piece rich, organic character, while a clear stone feels polished and serene. Both are beautiful expressions of the stone.
Gold or Silver
Turquoise and gold are a glamorous match, the warmth of the metal making the blue glow even brighter. Our Kept Safe Evil Eye Turquoise Gold Drop Earrings place a hand set turquoise cabochon at the heart of a radiant crown of golden lashes, and the Mystic Waves Turquoise Gold Adjustable Ring arranges several turquoise stones along a layered gold plated band. For a cooler, bohemian mood, sterling silver brings out the fresh, breezy side of turquoise, as in our Turquoise Evil Eye Sterling Silver Cuff Bangle Bracelet.
Setting and Shape
Turquoise is most often cut as a smooth, domed cabochon that shows off its color and pattern. Bezel settings, where a rim of metal wraps around the stone, add both protection and a beautifully finished look. Beaded designs celebrate turquoise in its most joyful, natural form and are made for layering.
Everyday Color or Statement Glamour
A single turquoise ring or a pair of earrings brings a flash of color to everyday looks, while a line of shimmering turquoise like our Turquoise Tennis Mystic Necklace brings polished glamour to any celebration. And turquoise is not only for her: our Turquoise Lion Men's Beaded Bracelet brings the stone's strength and protection to his wrist.
How to Care for Turquoise Jewelry
Turquoise is a softer, naturally porous stone, rating 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, so a little care keeps it radiant for years.
- Keep it dry: Take off turquoise jewelry before swimming, showering, bathing or washing dishes. Chlorine, salt water and long soaks can dull the stone and change its color over time.
- Put it on last: Perfume, hairspray, lotion, sunscreen and household cleaners can stain turquoise. Finish your beauty routine first, then add your jewelry.
- Clean gently: Wipe your pieces with a soft, dry or barely damp cloth after wearing. Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners or harsh jewelry dips.
- Store it separately: Keep turquoise in a soft pouch or a lined jewelry box, away from harder gems such as diamonds and sapphires that could scratch it.
- Protect it from heat and strong sun: Long hours of direct sunlight or high heat can fade or dry out the stone.
- Treat beaded pieces kindly: Avoid overstretching or soaking beaded bracelets and necklaces, and store them flat so the cord stays strong.
Over years of wear, some turquoise gently deepens in color as it absorbs natural oils from the skin. Many collectors cherish this soft patina as the mark of a stone that has truly been lived in and loved.
Turquoise Jewelry FAQ
What does turquoise symbolize?
Turquoise symbolizes protection, healing, good fortune, friendship and safe travel. It has been worn as a protective talisman for thousands of years across Egypt, Persia, Asia and the Americas.
Can I wear turquoise every day?
Yes. With a little care, turquoise is a wonderful everyday stone. Remove it before water and apply perfume and lotion before putting it on. Bezel set designs offer the stone extra protection for daily wear.
Can you wear turquoise in the shower?
It is best not to. Water, soap and shampoo can dull turquoise and change its color over time, so take your pieces off before showering, swimming or bathing.
What month is turquoise the birthstone for?
Turquoise is the traditional birthstone for December. It is also the gemstone for the 11th wedding anniversary.
Who should wear turquoise?
Anyone who is drawn to it. Turquoise is especially loved by travelers, by anyone starting a new chapter and by those seeking calm, protection and positive energy. It looks equally striking on women and men.
Is turquoise a good gift?
Turquoise is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give. As a symbol of friendship, protection and good fortune, it carries a heartfelt wish for the person who wears it, whether that is someone you love or yourself.
Discover Our Turquoise Collection
At Ebru Jewelry, turquoise is one of the stones we return to again and again, for its color, its history and the protection it has promised for thousands of years. Explore our turquoise necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings, and find the piece that feels like yours. Wear what you are.
