Zuni Turquoise Earrings
Early 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American Native American More Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Chandelier Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Stud Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Pearl, Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s Arts and Crafts Stud Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American More Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Coral, Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Native American Drop Earrings
Coral, Onyx, Opal, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American More Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American More Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Hoop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Chandelier Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s American Native American Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Pearl, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Native American Objects
Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Native American Objects
Vintage 1970s American Native American Drop Earrings
Onyx, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American More Jewelry
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
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Antique Late 18th Century British Georgian Chandelier Earrings
Amethyst, Pinchbeck
Antique Late 18th Century Portuguese Georgian Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, Sterling Silver
1990s Thai Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1920s American Native American Cuff Bracelets
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Chandelier Earrings
Agate, Emerald, Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1870s British Victorian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Native American Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Native American Link Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Edwardian Drop Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Italian Modernist Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century European Victorian Dangle Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Gold
Vintage 1950s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Silver
Zuni Turquoise Earrings For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Zuni Turquoise Earrings?
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.
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