Wholesale Turquoise Beads
Turquoise Beads – A Brief History
Rocks aren’t something many of us give much thought, except for geologists. But the vast majority of us pay them little mind, until someone’s birthday approaches from the horizon. Shopping for jewelry is an expensive experience, but the right necklace or bracelet for her birthday, or Mother’s Day, can make it an unforgettable day. One gemstone to consider that is particularly beautiful but not excessively expensive is turquoise, a bluish-green rock with smoothed edges and veiny ridges that conjure images of the American Southwest or the arid lands of the Middle-East.
The Formation of Turquoise
Pre-dating the ancient Egyptians, turquoise was one of the first mined gems in human history. Turquoise is created through a hydrothermal alteration (change done by heat in water or gases found in the Earth’s surface). Thousands of years ago magma rose through the layers of the Earth. As it made its journey upwards, it shifted and rearranged different minerals found in the Earth’s crust. Minerals that contained copper, chalcopyrite, malachite and azurite, were some of these shifted rocks. As they were forced upwards by the fiery hot magma they would touch other minerals along the way. When the right temperature was reached oxidation would occur. Oxidation is loss of hydrogen by an influx of oxygen. When this happened the copper would begin to mingle. If it happened to meet feldspar, which contained aluminum, and apatite, which contained phosphorous, turquoise was formed. The more copper present, the bluer the turquoise.
Turquoise Historically
As I mentioned earlier turquoise predates the Egyptians. However, they were the first known civilization to actively mine the precious mineral. Pharaoh’s wore the gem as a sign of natural beauty. The word turquoise was given to us by the French, who believed the gem originated from Turkey, hence the "tur" in turquoise. Their knowledge was flawed. At that point in history, during the Crusades, the majority of the world’s turquoise came from Persia (Iran). Chinese artifacts, dated as far back as 3000 years ago, contain turquoise. The gem stone was mined in the country as well as imported from the Middle-East. The Southwestern American Indians, from western Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, mined the gem stone and used it for decoration. In Mexico, the Aztecs also mined the gem. Even Shakespeare mentions turquoise in his play, The Merchant of Venice. The Merchant wears a turquoise ring as a sign of his wealth in post Renaissance Europe. It has placed a central role in opulence and beauty throughout history.
Contemporary Turquoise
Today the price of the gem has dropped. But do not correlate its price to its aesthetic value. Crafted in jewelry, turquoise is a vivid stone that accentuates a breezy summer dress. It is commonly found in necklaces, both as beads, whose shape greatly varies: howlite, wave, oval and chalk; and also comes as pendants with styles that are as sundry as the beads. Sterling rings embedded with turquoise are trendy and make a refreshing gift. A popular choice among artisans is discount purchased turquoise at wholesale prices. It can easily be fashioned into jewelry for themselves or others. The jewelry and gem stone make phenomenal gifts for friends and loved ones alike. It’s an admirable way to share in the cultural heritage of world.
By: Daniel Cruse
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