Turquoise In-Quarry

Each piece from Rachelle Willows Design has been curated with high quality stones to make your special jewellery piece shine

Turquoise, also known as the 'sky stone' is one of the most fascinating gemstones on earth and it was also one of the very first gemstones found by miners over 7,500 years ago. Kings, Pharaohs and historic individuals worshiped Turquoise and unconditionally believed that this gemstone has spiritual and metaphysical powers.

Turquoise is one of the top ten gemstones sold worldwide

It is also a fact that between the demand for Turquoise and American mining restrictions, Turquoise is quickly becoming a rarity. You are always able to tell where a particular piece of turquoise is from based on the name given to each stone. The naming is derived from the mine or quarry each stone was unearthed from. Some Turquoise even comes from mines that have long since shut down and are being slowly released into the market causing their rarity level to increase demand.

Learn more HERE to see all the beautiful stones discovered from mines across the world.

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~ Turquoise comes in many color's and shades of blue and green ~

In general, green Turquoise comes from Nevada and blue Turquoise comes from Arizona. Rare colors of Turquoise such as lime green Turquoise, yellow, and brown Turquoise have been discovered as well. There are also known Turquoise deposits in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Virginia.

Cousins to Turquoise in the phosphate gemstone family are Variscite, Chalcociderite, and Faustite. These stones are commonly sold as varieties of Turquoise and have been for thousands of years.

American Turquoise specimens are usually cut with the matrix in them, a good cutter tries to create a picture in the cabochon. The stones have black, white or brown matrices which are the veins of colour that run through the stone.

~ The forming process of Turquoise happens over millions of years ~

A chemical reaction occurs when water seeps through rocks that feature added minerals like aluminum and copper. The mineral percentage will cause the gem’s resulting shade. Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate of aluminum and copper (copper aluminum phosphate). Turquoise stones can contain impurities that form veins of sandstone, limonite, psilomelane or jasper. At temperatures of 500 degrees, blue Turquoise stones will become greener. Whichever mineral is most abundant will determine the hue of Turquoise formed.

~ Finding the right supplier is key to creating one of a kind stunning pieces ~

Rachelle Willows Design uses only the best stone suppliers: Durango Silver Company and Otteson Brothers Turquoise (featured on the T.V. show Turquoise Fever), along with Dillon Hartman and Mountain Girl Cabs. These suppliers know their way around many different types of stones and deal in gorgeous varieties of Turquoise. I really enjoy seeing the 'before' shots of turquoise in raw form which can be seen when clicking on the Otteson link above.

~ Caring for your Turquoise jewellery will create a lasting legacy piece ~

Since turquoise is a phosphate mineral, it is fragile. Therefore, gemstone owners should use caution when wearing perfume on their neck and wrists while adorning themselves with a turquoise bracelet or necklace. Chemicals will damage the stone’s finish and may change its colour. Avoid cleaning the gem with commercial jewellery cleaning products and prevent the stone from entering direct sunlight for long periods of time because it can cause turquoise to discolour. Before putting on a jewellery item featuring turquoise, apply makeup and sunscreen in addition to hairspray. After wearing turquoise, gently wipe the stone with a soft, clean towel. This will prevent residue from building up on the stone. It is safe to wash the gem with warm water. However, be sure to dry it thoroughly before placing it inside a storage container. Store turquoise in a separate compartment away from other jewellery pieces or gems as turquoise may become scratched. Also, do not store the gemstone in an airtight container since this can also cause damage to the stone.