Persian Gem

Products: Turquoise

-History

Natural Turquoise Gemstone, is one of the most widely known gems in the world. Turquoise was among the first gems to be mined. The legendary home of the world’s finest turquoise is the mines at Nishapur.

Nishapur or Nishabur is is a city in the Razavi Khorasan province in north eastern Iran.

It was named by Iranians initially "pirouzeh" meaning "victory" and later after Arab invasion "firouzeh". In Iranian architecture, the blue turquoise was used to cover the domes of the Iranian palaces because its intense blue color was also a symbol of heaven on earth.

In the Indian market the gem is also known as the ‘Phiroza’ or Feroza.

over 1,000 years as it was used extensively for protection and healing, It found its way into religion, art, trade, treaty negotiations and jewelry.

The Turquoise Gemstone is the official stone for December and is also used to celebrate five years of marriage.

-Quality

Persian Turquoise has the best quality in the world. Much of the turquoise from sources other than the Nishapur mines will become greenish or whitish within a year, even if it was a beautiful blue at the time it was mined. Persian turquoise even after polishing has maintain its naturally beautiful sky-blue color.

Turquoise is the national Gemstone of Iran (Persia) and is used for the decoration of thrones. Montezuma's treasure, which is on display in the British Museum, includes a wonderful carved serpent that is covered by a mosaic of Turquoise.

-physical Properties

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue.

Its specific gravity falls between 2.60 and 2.85 and the refractive index ranges between 1.610 and 1.650. The gemstones hardness on Mohs scale is 5.5 to 6

-other

The Turquoise Gemstone has long been believed to be a magical stone that connects spiritual awareness and develops inner strength and calm. Turquoise has always been worn as a natural protection against the powers of darkness, even now it is used as the protective stone of pilots and aircrews and many other occupations deemed as high risk.

Turquoise is the Gemstone of the people, a stone of friendship.

Anyone choosing a Turquoise is sure to enjoy a piece of heaven-on earth. The colour of turquoise makes feel happy and cheerful, protect their wearer against Evil eye.

Persian Scholar Al-Qazwini : The hands that wear a turquoise and seals with it will never see poverty.

Those suffering from depression are recommended to wear a turquoise.

Wearing a pendant or ring of superior gem-quality untreated Persian turquoise is an elegant luxury.

-Value

The color, texture and matrix of natural turquoise gemstone are more important than the cut, carat weight or clarity as the deciding factors of its price.

The most beautiful and attractive turquoise color is said to be  ‘sky-blue’. Since gems with the best blue color were mined in Iran (former Persia), the color is also described as ‘Persian Blue’

the presence of matrix reduces the value of the gem, however the ‘spiderweb matrix’ (an attractive brown or black limonite veining) may increase the gem’s value if the result is complimentary.

Natural Turquoise can be quite expensive and it is for this reason many different imitations exist on the market today.

-Maintain

Natural Turquoise is sensitive to chemicals and may change color, so strict care is necessary.

If you wear a Turquoise ring, it should always be removed before washing your hands and perspiration should be cleaned off gently with water.
Turquoise Jewelry should always be stored in a cool, dark box in acid free tissue paper, away from other Jewelry that may cause it damage.