Southwestern Jewelry Turquoise
Vintage 1960s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s Brooches
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Bangles
Topaz, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s North American Anglo-Indian Fashion Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s American Modern Link Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Cocktail Rings
Turquoise, Silver
1990s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century North American Native American Chain Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s Fashion Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Jade, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Charoite, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Retro Signet Rings
Turquoise, 14k Gold
Antique 1880s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Rope Necklaces
Turquoise, Silver
1990s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s Unknown Native American Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century North American Native American Dangle Earrings
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 14k Gold
1990s American Native American Solitaire Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s North American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century North American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American Native American Fashion Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s American Native American Clamper Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Fashion Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s American Native American Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century North American Native American Fashion Rings
Coral, Onyx, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Native American Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Native American Clip-on Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Native American Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Silver
20th Century American Native American Signet Rings
Turquoise, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Turquoise, 14k Gold
2010s North American Native American Fashion Rings
Topaz, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century North American Native American Band Rings
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Rhodocrosite, Sterling Silver
1990s North American Native American Band Rings
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Cuff Bracelets
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Native American Pendant Necklaces
Amber, Turquoise, Silver
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Navajo Collectible Jewelry
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Cuff Bracelets
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Brooches
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Brooches
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s Link Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American Native American Fashion Rings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Collectible Jewelry
Multi-gemstone, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
Vintage 1970s Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Native American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
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Southwestern Jewelry Turquoise For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Southwestern Jewelry Turquoise?
The Legacy of Turquoise in Jewelry Design
The thought of vintage and antique turquoise jewelry often conjures up images of striking Navajo bracelets and necklaces worn with a denim shirt and cowboy boots. This all-American look has been celebrated by fashion designers like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger on their runways and in ad campaigns. In the October 2016 issue of Vogue magazine, Tom Ford said he only wears turquoise jewelry at his Santa Fe ranch. So what is it about this gorgeous blue-green stone that makes us wish that we were born in December?
It’s not surprising that turquoise is abundant in New Mexico and Arizona because, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), it needs to be in “dry and barren regions where acidic, copper-rich groundwater seeps downward and reacts with minerals that contain phosphorus and aluminum.
Turquoise is not found in a single crystal but is a combination of microcrystals. Its appearance, waxy and opaque, is attributed to its structure and composition. “It’s an aggregate of microscopic crystals that form a solid mass. If the crystals are packed closely together, the material is less porous, so it has a finer texture. Fine-textured turquoise has an attractive, waxy luster when it’s polished. Turquoise with a less-dense crystal structure has higher porosity and coarser texture, resulting in a dull luster when it’s polished,” notes the GIA. Since no one wants to set a dull piece of turquoise, porous turquoise is often treated to make the stone more attractive.
In the United States, there have been discoveries of turquoise from 200 B.C. It is not just loose turquoise stones that have been found, but entire suites of jewelry from prehistoric times. In the late 19th-century, the Navajo Indians, who learned silversmithing from the Spanish, started to make beads out of turquoise and eventually combined it with silver around the 1880s. Initially this jewelry was for ceremonial purposes, but it became fashionable once the tourism in the Southwest picked up in the beginning of the 20th century.
Find antique and vintage turquoise rings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To protect turquoise jewelry, keep it stored in a cool, dry area inside of a cloth pouch in a jewelry box. Do not allow the stone to come in contact with any type of chemical. Also, keep it away from tea, coffee and skin care products. Find a collection of turquoise jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021Turquoise jewelry is generally worth between $1 and $10 per carat because it’s not considered a very rare stone.