Turquoise has been used in the crafting of jewelry for thousands of years. From Egypt to Peru, the soft green blue semiprecious gemstone is found around the world and has been associated with good luck, fertility and religious artifacts as well as for personal adornment. Here in the Southwest you will find that the Native American silver jewelry trade had it's roots from Spain and South America. As you stroll the jewelry shops in Phoenix, Tucson, Santa Fe and Albuquerque do take notice of the beautiful craftsmanship that is evident in the turquoise studded creations. Also notice the combinations of color from not only turquoise stones but many other types of stones being used in the pieces you see displayed. Local native american tribes have their own distinct styles which are readily identifiable if you care to notice and I am sure you will.

Here is something else I bet you did not know. Some of the best quality

turquoise today comes from other countries besides the USA, also more importing of lower quality jewelry is occuring from outside of the USA, so do be careful when shopping and try to inquire as to the origin of products you are shopping for. If you want a more expensive sterling silver jewelry items then look for a stamp mark or some clarification of the product. You should be prepared to see your jewelry tarnish, because this is a natural occurring event as the silver is exposed to oxygen. When the silver ore is mined it comes out black and you would never think that it could be the same shiny metal that you see in the stores. Well, hope you learned something from my article which will be of benefit to you on your next visit to the jewelry store or when you browse the net for those last minute Christmas gifts. These are just a few of the interesting facts that you can learn about when you visit our web site.