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Turquoise Fashion Jewelry
Turquoise is a popular choice for costume jewelry designed with a Southwestern feel. Lariat necklaces, bolo ties, and squash blossom necklaces often make liberal use of turquoise in their designs. Nuggets of turquoise are also used frequently to make stretch bracelets, dramatic necklaces, or earrings. Simple round stones may have a hole drilled in them and then secured around the neck with a thong, a style that dates back to pre-Columbian times..
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Turquoise jewelry has been popular in many cultures since at least 3000 B.C. Cultures as diverse as the Aztecs, Persians, and Egyptians valued it for both its beauty and beliefs that it held mystical properties. In fact, the funeral mask of King Tut was liberally adorned with turquoise, along with carnelian and lapis lazuli.
In the American Southwest, the Zuni, Navaho, and other tribes have been creating turquise fashion jewelry and other costume jewelry since the latter part of the nineteenth century. Prior to the influence of European styles, most turquoise was used in making masks, weapons, and dolls. Many creations were, and are, based on traditional designs that were crafted more than a century ago to be more commercially appealing.
Turquoise jewelry should be worn and handled carefully. It can be fragile and easily scratched by harder pieces. Like many other types of costume jewelry, turquoise can be damaged or discolored by hair spray, perfume, cosmetics, and sunscreens. Such products should be applied before donning turquise fashion jewelry.
Modern artisans generally make turquoise jewelry that features silver or a silver-toned metal for pleasing contrast. Other settings, such as tiger eye, coral, and mother of pearl are also frequently used in combination with turquoise in one or more shades. Glass beads are sometimes added to the piece to lend additional light refraction.
Cabochons, or convex stones that are typically round or oval, are popular settings for cuff bracelets, medallions, and rings. The mountings may be simple or ornately engraved. The turquoise may be used alone, as is often the case with a large cabochon, or surrounded by smaller stones with different colors.
Turquise fashion jewelry can also be carved into various shapes, such as a heart, since the stone is relatively soft and easily worked. These shapes can be set into a metal mounting or used alone with just a hole drilled for attachment.
While most people associate turquoise with a blue-green color, it can actually be found in a variety of subtle shades. Sky blue is quite popular, but genuine turquoise can also be found that has a yellowish tint to it. Some pieces will have brown or black "spider webs" throughout, and the number and hue of the veins can vary.
