Turquoise, the Lucky Stone

My cousin, who has visited me here in Nepal recently, gifted me this very elegant silver bracelet decorated with turquoise and zircon stones.
Turquoise is my favourite semi-precious stone. It is beautiful and it is not expensive. I like its colour range - from light to medium blue or greenish-blue. Jewelry with turquoise stones makes a good accessory to white-coloured summer outfits.
Turquoise got its name from the Turkish merchants who first carried this beautiful stone to Europe for trade. In Turkey turquoise was known as the Horseman's Talisman. It was believed there that any rider who carried one would never suffer any injury if he fell from his horse.
Besides its beauty turquoise has been credited with a wide variety of protective qualities. Not that I believe in this too much but anyway. It is said to be effective against poison and ill-health, it has ability to guard its owner against failure, poverty and lack of success in the hunt, to preserve friendship and make friends of enemies. Turquoise also can bring luck but for this it should be given not bought (lucky me!).

Ivory Buddha seated in a grotto of turquoise matrix, 16-17c, The British Museum

To the ancient Aztecs it was the stone of the Gods and no one was allowed to wear it, turquoise was exclusively reserved as an offering to the gods and for the decoration of their images. They also inlaid turquoise into ceremonial mosaic objects such as masks, some with a human skull as their base. Sometimes the turquoise amulets were tied to the weapons to improve their effectiveness in attack.

Turquoise mosaic mask. Mixtec-Aztec, AD 1400-1521. The British Museum

Many physicians of the 15th century carried a turquoise in their medical bags claiming that the stone would counter the harmful effect of poison. Looking at turquoise or placing a stone on the eyes was believed to soothe inflamed eyes.
Another belief is that when turquoise changes colour from blue to pale green it indicates that the wearer has illness. The best quality unflawed pieces are also traditionally thought to avert the evil eye, repel demons and prevent bad dreams. In earlier times turquoises were placed at the bottom of teacups as it was thought they would change colour if poison was present, acting as detectors.

Chinese snuff bottle of carved turquoise, 19th

Special role turquoise has always played in Tibet. It was offered in ceremonies to deities and to demons as "ransom" in rituals to avert sickness. Turquoise for Tibetans has long been the most favoured stone valued almost as if it were on the level of a precious gem. Big turquoises were sometimes engraved with magic formulas to enhance their power. Small stones were once used as a type of currency.
One of the most important believed properties of turquoise is its ability to absorb the sins of the wearer (a very useful ability cause "who is without sin")
When worn in a ring, it is believed to assure a safe journey; worn in the ear it prevents reincarnation as a donkey (so, if you are scared to be reincarnated into this rather cute animal don't forget to wear turquoise earrings).
Persian (Iranian) turquoise is considered the finest quality and also the most expensive.
Here is my small collection of turquoise jewelries
earrings ( I hope by wearing these I avoid the danger to be reincarnated into a donkey)

pendants

rings

And finally, this necklace

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