"Turquoise:  Master healer; protects against environmental pollutants; strengthens anatomy and guards against all disease; improved absorption of nutrients; tissue regeneration; subtle body alignment and strengthening; eye disorders."
    
"Turquoise keeps the feeling of unconditional love in one's heart and helps one feel more connected with Allah. It also assists in the digestion of proteins and thus aids digestion. Turquoise also helps draw out negative feelings such as envy or anger from a person. It assists in healing ailments of the thyroid, throat, ears, neck and respiratory system. It can also help to combat allergies or heart problems."  – Islamonline.net
    
Whatever your religion or astrological persuasion, turquoise has long been regarded as the healing stone.  In addition, it is one gemstone that has stood the test of time, its popularity revived many times over in the jewelry fashion world. 
    
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), turquoise is one of the world’s most ancient gemstones.  Archaeological excavations have revealed that Egyptian royalty wore turquoise jewelry as early as 5500 B.C. Chinese artisans were carving it more than 3,000 years ago. Native American tribes have worn turquoise as a ceremonial gem and adorned their jewelry with it for thousands of years. 
    
In the past few years, turquoise has enjoyed a booming popularity.  Many celebrities including Cher, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Lenny Kravitz have all recently been spotted wearing some form of turquoise jewelry.  Not just a staple of southwestern jewelry collectors anymore, turquoise can be seen everywhere in pendants, chunky bracelets, drop earrings, and elaborate necklaces.  Trendy fashion designers have sewn turquoise into clothing and purses. 
    
Turquoise color ranges from light to medium blue or greenish-blue and is usually opaque. Spider web turquoise, a popular variation, displays veins of matrix (its host rock) in web-like patterns. Persian (Iranian) turquoise is considered the finest quality and also the most expensive.  It exhibits an intense light to medium blue, typically with no matrix. It has the ability to take on a glossy polish. Other turquoise varieties including American, Mexican, Egyptian, and Chinese are a significant source today. 
   
Turquoise is an extremely versatile stone that can be worked into a variety of shapes and settings.  It also works well with other gemstones such as these sterling silver bracelet.  Here a high-grade lapis lazuli, authentic, deep orange-red coral is mixed with high-grade authentic green spider web turquoise inlays.  Item # AJB200355.  
    
JEGEM.com offers an excellent selection of turquoise fashioned into earrings, bracelets, pendants, ring, and more. With the exception of a formal ball gown, turquoise can be worn with just about anything, and by just about anyone, including men. 

 By Julie