Color enhancement has existed for thousands of
years. In ancient times a common way to enhance turquoise. Was to submerge the
stone in animal or vegetable oil and let it dry. It. Would then have a luster
that did not previously exist. This would not last for a very long and the
certain advent of oil stains appearing, when worn. Prompted the seller to leave
the area shortly after the sale.

There are many superstitions
associated with the turquoise. In the Third century, it was believed to protect
its owner from falling off a horse. A change in color revealed the infidelity of
a wife. Twelfth century Arabian writings said "The turquoise shines when the air
is pure and becomes pale when it is dim." They also believed that its color
changed with the weather. Persians said that the reflection of the new moon on a
turquoise stone brought good luck, and guarded against evil. It was said to have
a healing effect on the eye-merely looking at it strengthened the eye, while
placing it on an inflammed eye
brought a cure. A 15th century philosopher attributed its change of color to its
ability to attract poisons. It was a barometer of its user's health, turning
pale in illness and losing color in death, yet regaining its original beauty in
the hands of a new and healthy owner.
Turquoise became a major trade
and barter item for the early persian. persian
turquoise was found in ancient graves in Turkistan, and in the first to third century AD, in graves
throughout the Caucausus.
The finest color, sometimes referred to as
Persian, is an even robin's egg blue. The ancients preferred blue because a
gem-grade blue stone would not change color (King Tut's treasures include a
substantial amount of this type of blue turquoise and it appears unchanged
today.
The less hard blues would eventually shade
towards green. At this point in history green was not as good. Time has proven
this wrong.
"spiderweb," which many people prefer.
Rather than clear blue stones without matrix
Although not specifically mentioned in the Bible, scholars believe that the robe worn by the high
priest Aaron was adorned with turquoise. Aristotle, Pliny and
others refer to stones that must have been turquoise. After the fourth or fifth
century AD, many writings appeared discussing the stone. Explorers such as Marco Polo took time to write about
it.
Turquoise jewelry, has always been popular in the Orient. Turquoise
was a highly revered item to the Tibetans who ranked them in six grades.
The
history of turquoise in China dates to the thirteenth century
AD Although mining did exist, most stone came from trade with the Persians, Turks, Tibetans, and the Mongols. Much
Chinese turquoise was used for carving and in other art and decorative ways. It
never became a precious stone for the Chinese as was Jade for example. Turquoise
was unknown until the 18th Century in Japan.
"Even colour of this stone uses in fashion and
stylish."
Turquoise was not of great import in early
and medieval Europe. However, as Asian
conquests and incursions into Europe, occurred.
Seventeenth century Englishmen traveling there. Brought the style back with
them, but not until Victorian time was it
fashionable for European women to wear the
stone. Victorian and Art Nouveau jewelry featured a good deal of turquoise.

Ancient doctors exploited the stone's medicinal
potentials. These varied from land to land and age to age.
It was thought to prevent injury through
accident, prevent blindness by placing perfect stones over the eyes. It was
ground into a salve or powder. It was rubbed on or ingested to cure stomach
disorders, internal bleeding, ailments of the hip. Even for bites and stings.
From snakes and scorpions.
It found its way into the mystic arts. Its color
could forecast good or bad, predict the weather and influence dreams. It was
good for nearly every ailment including insanity. As a good luck talisman it
found usage in nearly every culture. The Egyptians also mounted turquoise in
silver to treat eyes suffering from cataract. Since the fourteenth century,
harnesses of dogs, horses and other animals have been decorated with turquoise
to protect the animal and master from falling injuries.
Turquoise has been believed to confer foresight as
well as protect the wearer from danger. In various countries, it is believed to
fade when illness or danger is near. Another belief is that a fading stone
indicates a lover's faithlessness or a friend's disaffection. In many cultures,
the stone is regarded as a harbinger of good fortune, success and
health.
Aztecs and Egyptians considered it a symbol of prosperity. In
India, one was to
wear a turquoise on the little finger and look at the stone after seeing the new
moon to gain great wealth. The turquoise from Iran is
characteristically an intense medium blue color and takes a fine polish. American and Mexican turquoises range from light blue to
greenish-blue to bluish-green. Egyptian turquoise contains more green, showing
greenish-blue to yellowish-green.
Turquoise was likely found and used by early
man. Certainly the prehistoric peoples of the Western hemisphere knew of
turquoise. We have found pieces in burial and archeological sites throughout the
two continents. It seems clear that turquoise was always considered a stone of
life and good fortune and it even had healing properties. The stone was used in
religion, art, trade, treaty negotiations as well as for jewelry. It was
considered by some tribes to be associated with life itself.