December Birthstone - The Truth Behind Turquoise

The word Turquoise dates back to the 17th century, when trading routes brought the gemstone from Persia through the Middle East towards Europe. Traders passed through Turkey, also known as “Turquie” in French so the locals named the material “Turquies” (“Turkish”).

Turquoise is one of December’s birthstones and is an opaque, light to dark blue or blue-green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate. The copper is what gives it its blue coloring. When the mineral is associated with iron, that’s when it gets its greenish color. If the mineral contains zinc, it will be a yellowish color. Turquoise usually contains other minerals that are either black, brown, or yellowish-brown in color. These “veins” are known as the matrix and are sometimes in the form of an intricate pattern, called a spider web.

Turquoise is a mineral to lift spirits, especially during the winter blues. Here are 10 interesting facts you might not have known about Turquoise:

1. Turquoise is one of the world’s oldest gemstone

2. It is said to be a holy stone, used for getting rid of negative energy

3. Turquoise is a strengthening stone and good for exhaustion, depression, or panic attacks. It helps increase a person’s self confidence

4. It relieves stress and brings focus back to the center heart. It is balancing, helping one to recognize the causes of happiness and unhappiness in their life

5. The most valuable and finest turquoise gemstones can be found in Northeast Iran

6. For over a thousand years, Native Americans have mined and fashioned Turquoise, using it to guard their burial sites

7 It is the only gemstone to have an exclusive color named after it

8. The changing color of the Turquoise with time symbolizes the age cycle from birth to death

9. Turquoise is sensitive to direct sunlight and solvents like makeup, perfume and natural oils

10. Turquoise covered palace domes because its sky blue color represented heaven