Turquoise Meaning: The Sky-Blue Stone and How to Spot the Real One

Turquoise meaning goes back a very long way. People have treasured this sky-blue stone for thousands of years, from ancient Egypt and Persia to the American Southwest. Even the colour word comes from the stone, not the other way round. Let's sort out what it is, what it's linked with, and what's really on the shelf.

What turquoise actually is

Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum. Copper gives the blue. Iron nudges it toward green. It usually forms in dry regions, where water seeps through copper-rich rock and leaves the mineral behind in veins and nuggets.

It rates about 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, so it's softer than quartz. It's also porous, a bit like a very hard sponge. That matters for wearing it, and we'll get to care below.

The name comes from French for "Turkish stone". The story goes that it reached Europe along trade routes through Turkey, so Europeans named it after the middlemen. Wikipedia's turquoise page has more on the mineral.

Turquoise meaning: what it's traditionally linked with

Turquoise is traditionally linked with luck, protection and clear communication. The story goes that travellers and riders carried it for a safe trip. Many cultures have worn it as a lucky charm, which is why you see it on so many rings and pendants.

It's honoured in a lot of traditions, including Persian art and the jewellery of Indigenous peoples in the American Southwest. Those traditions belong to the people who keep them, so we'll leave the details to them and simply say the stone is deeply respected.

In modern chakra charts, turquoise sits with the throat. Zodiac lists often pair it with Sagittarius. It's also one of the December birthstones, alongside tanzanite and zircon. Our birthstones by month guide has the full chart.

The shades of turquoise

Turquoise comes in more than one blue. Here's the rough spread:

• Sky blue: the even, clear colour most people picture. It's the classic "robin's egg" look.
• Blue-green: a little iron mixed in shifts the colour toward teal.
• Green: more iron, less copper, and you get an apple or olive tone.
• With matrix: brown, black or gold veins of the host rock running through the blue. Some people love a spiderweb pattern most of all.

Matrix isn't a flaw. It's just the rock the turquoise grew in, and it makes every piece look different.

How people wear turquoise

Turquoise is mostly a jewellery stone, and our shelf reflects that. A few favourites:

• Earrings: the raw turquoise earrings in sterling silver keep the rough shape of the stone.
• Bracelets: the Turquoise Horizon bracelet sets the blue in sterling silver for everyday wear.
• Necklaces: the crescent moon necklace pairs nicely with the matching crescent moon huggies.
• Studs: small studs, like the Marisol star burst studs, are an easy first piece.

Pieces come and go, so check the turquoise collection for today's shelf.

Who tends to choose it? People who like a bright, cheerful colour that still feels earthy. It looks great with silver, denim and warm skin tones. It's also a classic December birthday gift.

Is my turquoise real?

This is the big question with turquoise, so here's the honest version. A lot of what's sold as turquoise has been changed in some way, or isn't turquoise at all.

• Stabilized: because turquoise is porous, much of it is filled with resin to make it tougher and keep the colour. It's still turquoise, and it's very common.
• Dyed: paler stones can be dyed a stronger blue.
• Reconstituted: turquoise powder bound with resin and pressed into blocks.
• Look-alikes: white howlite or magnesite dyed blue is a very common stand-in. So are glass and plastic.

A few clues: dye can pool in cracks and look darker there. Very cheap, very perfect, very even blue pieces deserve a second look. When in doubt, ask the seller what it is and how it's been treated.

Now our own shelf. African turquoise isn't turquoise. It's a speckled blue-green stone, usually described as a type of jasper, sold under a trade name that stuck. We still love it, and it's lovely in the African turquoise bracelet. It just isn't the copper mineral. The same goes for Turquoise Impression Jasper, which we mark "(Enhanced)" because its colour has been boosted. Treated, dyed and man-made stones are labelled as such in our shop.

Curious about the bigger picture? Our skeptic's guide to crystals is a friendly, no-pressure read.

Caring for turquoise

Turquoise is the one stone in your jewellery box that likes to be babied a little.

• Take it off for swimming, showers, dishes and the gym. Water, chlorine and sweat can dull or shift the colour over time.
• Put it on last, after lotion, perfume and hair spray. Oils soak into the pores.
• Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. Skip soaking, salt water, steam and ultrasonic cleaners.
• Keep it out of strong sun and heat for long stretches. It can fade or dry out.
• Store it apart from harder stones, since quartz and friends can scratch it.

Stones that pair well with turquoise

Malachite is a fellow copper mineral, so the greens and blues sit together naturally. Lapis lazuli gives you a deep navy next to turquoise's sky blue, a classic colour pairing. For a birthstone stack, add October's opal or August's peridot.

Not sure turquoise is your stone? The Crystal Quiz will point you somewhere, and our stone meanings page has the rest.

Frequently asked questions

Is turquoise considered good luck?

In many traditions, yes. It's long been worn as a lucky charm, and the story goes that travellers carried it for a safe trip. That's lore, not a promise.

What birthstone is turquoise?

Turquoise is a December birthstone. It shares the month with tanzanite and zircon.

What is the biblical meaning of turquoise?

Turquoise isn't clearly named in the Bible. Ancient stone names are hard to match to modern minerals, so different translations disagree about which stones they mean.

What are the different shades of turquoise?

Sky blue, blue-green and green are the main ones. Copper makes it bluer and iron makes it greener. Many pieces also show brown or black veins of host rock, called matrix.

Is African turquoise real turquoise?

No. African turquoise is a speckled blue-green stone, usually described as a type of jasper, sold under a trade name. It's pretty, it just isn't the copper mineral.

Can you wear turquoise in the shower?

Best not. Turquoise is porous, so water, soap and chlorine can dull or shift the colour over time. Take it off first and wipe it with a dry cloth.

Come say hi

Turquoise is easiest to choose in person, because every shade looks a little different in the hand. Visit us at 396 Victoria Street North in Kitchener, or browse turquoise online.