| The natural cool colors of turquoise just | | | | desert southwest. There are many famous |
| seem to make it a gem that is easy to | | | | American turquoise mines spread throughout |
| appreciate and enjoy. From the Ancient | | | | the Southwestern US, chiefly in Nevada, |
| Egyptians and early Chinese civilizations to | | | | Arizona and New Mexico, but also in Colorado |
| the Native American tribes, mankind around | | | | and California. American turquoise comes in a |
| the world has treasured turquoise for | | | | wide diversity of blues and greens - there |
| centuries as the ancient stone of the earth | | | | are many colors and patterns to choose from. |
| and sky. It really is no wonder that | | | | The bulk of the production from each mine |
| turquoise seems to hold some raw, primitive | | | | tends to have certain characteristics, so the |
| quality, as turquoise was one of the first | | | | collector will seek to purchase gems with |
| gemstones ever worked by mankind - it has | | | | those specific traits to show the best |
| been treasured for thousands of years. It is | | | | examples of each mine. As an example, |
| soft enough to be shaped, polished and | | | | certain mines in Nevada are well known for |
| fashioned into jewelry with simple tools - | | | | their spider web patterned turquoise, and the |
| hence its use from the earliest times of | | | | collector may seek turquoise from that mine |
| man's civilization. | | | | which shows that pattern in its most |
| | | | attractive forms. |
| Handcrafted turquoise jewelry just seems to | | | | |
| have an enduring natural beauty and a raw, | | | | Probably more than any other gem, turquoise |
| primitive quality. Although a bright blue | | | | has been subject to the ups and downs of the |
| shade comes to mind for most people, | | | | fads of fashion. This has been true for over |
| turquoise actually comes in a wide range of | | | | a century in the US, with the first surge in |
| colors from a bright green, to greenish blue | | | | demand coming in the early 1890s. Those of us |
| to bright royal blue shades. Not too cheap, | | | | who are old enough, we remember when |
| but not overly expensive - natural turquoise | | | | turquoise was really in vogue and popular |
| is an affordable souvenir of mother earth. | | | | during the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, |
| | | | the strong demand caused a huge increase in |
| Starting a collection of turquoise jewelry is | | | | turquoise prices, and much turquoise was |
| actually very easy, and the desirable | | | | mined in Nevada. The popularity of Turquoise |
| attributes of this beautiful gem just seem to | | | | fell off somewhat in the 1980s, but it has |
| grow on you as your collection expands. | | | | been consistently increasing in popularity in |
| Turquoise is an investment that does not need | | | | recent years and is poised for another |
| to be locked away in a vault, because you can | | | | comeback. Many fashion magazines have |
| enjoy your jewelry as you wear it. The tides | | | | featured turquoise jewelry recently. |
| of fashion have turned in recent years, and | | | | Well-known entertainment personalities once |
| the beautiful blues and greens of turquoise | | | | again regularly feature turquoise to |
| are again coming back into the mainstream. | | | | accessorize their wardrobes. Both Lapidary |
| Trend setting magazines once again regularly | | | | Journal and Rock and Gem magazines have done |
| feature turquoise and well-known | | | | special "turquoise feature" issues within |
| entertainment personalities use it to | | | | recent years. There has been a "run" on rough |
| accessorize their wardrobes. Most people who | | | | turquoise the last couple years in at the |
| collect turquoise jewelry organize their | | | | famous Tucson gem shows. Prices for rough are |
| collections around one of two concepts: | | | | increasing - in fact its quite difficult to |
| | | | buy high quality natural rough turquoise. |
| 1) The first is to collect the work of famous | | | | Every day more and more people are coming to |
| jewelry artists. Certain artists are partial | | | | appreciate the enduring beauty of fine |
| to specific recognizable styles and patterns, | | | | turquoise. While it is true that fashion |
| which then become the hallmark of their work. | | | | trends will come and go, fine quality always |
| | | | endures and never goes out of style. Natural, |
| Some collectors specialize only in the works | | | | gem-grade turquoise will always stay |
| of well-known Native American artists, often | | | | beautiful to look at and be exciting to wear. |
| trying to specialize in a few particular | | | | |
| artists, and collecting several examples of | | | | To learn more about Natural American |
| their work. Others will also include the work | | | | turquoise, take a look at our turquoise |
| of Anglo artists who have been trained in the | | | | information center: |
| ways of making Indian style jewelry. These | | | | |
| other artists are also of interest, as some | | | | If you would like to see some of our |
| have become very successful in their craft. | | | | beautiful turquoise jewelry and purchase some |
| It is also true that while most turquoise is | | | | turquoise directly from the mine owner, take |
| mounted in Indian style silver jewelry, there | | | | a look at our turquoise jewelry: |
| is also some very beautiful turquoise jewelry | | | | |
| made in very classy contemporary styles. | | | | Chris Ralph writes on small scale mining and |
| | | | prospecting for the ICMJ Mining Journal. He |
| 2) The second concept is to collect the gems | | | | is a rock hound and prospector and owns his |
| of specific American turquoise Mines of the | | | | own turquoise mines in Nevada. |