One of the first gems ever mined, turquoise delighted traders on the Silk Road, and is still associated with the Middle East. Apart from the exotic charm of its unbelievable rich colour, this association owes to the Persian Empire's role as the premier source of the world's turquoise for 2000 years. In present day Turkey, which the stone was most likely named after because of erroneous assumptions about the stone's origins, turquoise can still be seen adorning the insides and outsides of mosques everywhere.
Jewelry communities worldwide enjoy it as polished cabochons, seeking to showcase the unique green-blue colour that rightfully earned itself a name on the colour wheel. These provocative hues are caused by copper and aluminum deposits in the earth's crust, and are often discovered in veins and crevices as byproducts of copper mining projects in arid regions.
Even though turquoise is relatively soft, it handles polishing well, and is also occasionally faceted. Still, one should make sure to care for their turquoise jewelry, and protect it from cosmetics, heat, and bright light, which threaten the gemstone's natural lustre.
Turquoise has been thought to aid the body's healing process, centre the emotions, and provide physical protection from harm.
Source: http://www.stonesandfindings.com/jewelry-making-articles/articles/turquoise
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