Turquoise is a beautiful gemstone that has been popular in many cultures for many decades, prized not only for its stunning blue color but also for its spiritual and healing properties. It is said to bring luck, peace, and protection, as well as good fortune, tranquility, and hope.

The word "turquoise" comes from a French word meaning "Turkish," likely because the stone was introduced to Medieval Europe by Turkish sources. In fact, the history of turquoise dates back thousands of years, with some of the oldest examples of turquoise jewelry dating back to ancient Egyptian times.

The true value of a turquoise stone relies mostly on its color evenness and saturation. The highest grades of turquoise are used for cabochons, carvings, and inlay, while lower grades are used as polished beads or natural "nugget-style" beads. Most natural turquoise stones have black or gray veins, which can detract from their overall appearance. To achieve a pure blue turquoise stone is rare and can be quite expensive.

To overcome this issue, the jewelry industry has created turquoise paste beads. The process involves taking ground natural turquoise and filtering out the impurities to create a pure turquoise color. This paste is then molded into beads and polished to give them a natural turquoise color. These beads are especially useful for small, delicate pieces like our baby jewelry!

It's worth noting that turquoise is the December birthstone and makes a wonderful gift for anyone born in that month, as well as anyone who appreciates the unique beauty and spiritual properties of this stunning gemstone.