| Visitors to the American Southwest often marvel | | | | also see very similar looking jewelry -- rings and |
| at the lovely turquoise and silver jewelry made by | | | | necklaces handcrafted from silver and inlaid with |
| the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni people who live in the | | | | turquoise and coral stones. |
| area now known as Arizona and New Mexico. Of | | | | Those who believe in the spiritual properties of |
| course, before the invasion of the western | | | | gemstones say that turquoise may enhance the |
| hemisphere by Europeans, this was the realm of | | | | spiritual journeys and wisdom of one who wears |
| the native people who named it using words from | | | | it. According to some American native traditions, |
| their various languages. | | | | turquoise jewelry is worn because it is a power |
| Today, tourists, collectors and other shoppers | | | | stone and it also helps to heal the spirit. |
| enjoy going into trading posts, pawn shops, | | | | Research on the symbolic meaning of turquoise |
| antique shops and fashionable jewelry boutiques | | | | reveals that this stone has been used historically |
| hoping to uncover treasures of genuine native | | | | by traditional people in Europe and Asia for |
| turquoise jewelry, in the form of necklaces, | | | | protection and also to attract love, money and |
| bracelets, earrings, rings, belt buckles and other | | | | happiness. |
| articles. But these bangles were not always so | | | | If you are fortunate enough to own some antique |
| desirable and expensive. | | | | turquoise jewelry, remember this stone is much |
| During the 1950s, when western style square | | | | less hard than, for example, a diamond. Because it |
| dancing began to become popular in the United | | | | can be scratched more easily, you should store |
| States, these native Indian fashions became | | | | your precious turquoise necklace, earrings or |
| incorporated into the wardrobe of the men and | | | | other pieces in a soft cloth bag. |
| women square dancers who wore Stetson hats, | | | | Many native American Indian groups incorporate |
| cowboy boots, squaw dresses or crinoline skirts. | | | | turquoise into silver and even precious gold pieces. |
| As time passed, traditional native American | | | | Owners of vintage turquoise and silver jewelry |
| jewelry became trendy as artists, singers and | | | | should resist the temptation to polish their items. |
| movie stars were seen adorning their bodies with | | | | This is because collectors prize old silver jewelry |
| so-called "Indian" style jewelry crafted from | | | | that has developed a patina over the years, and |
| turquoise, silver and coral. | | | | this is one of the marks they use to determine |
| Curiously, it is not only the native people of North | | | | whether a piece is a genuine antique or merely a |
| America who make this kind of jewelry. If you | | | | replica of a more valuable article. |
| travel to parts of India, Nepal and Tibet, you will | | | | |