Colors
- Powdery blue to greenish robin's egg blue
- Sky blue is often called "Persian blue"
Browse other gems by color: Blue · Green
Where Turquoise comes from
- United States (now the largest supplier; Arizona leads)
- Iran (historic source of sky blue turquoise)
- Sinai Peninsula, Egypt (historic)
- Nevada, New Mexico, California and Colorado (US)
Turquoise meaning and history
The name: From the French "pierre tourques", "Turkish stone", for stones that reached Europe through Turkey.
Turquoise has decorated jewelry, ceremonial masks, weapons and bridles for thousands of years.
Meanings and powers attributed to gems are history and folklore. We report them; we do not claim a stone can do anything.
How hard is Turquoise?
Turquoise is 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, where talc is 1, quartz 7 and diamond 10. Toughness, its resistance to chipping and breaking: fair to good.
See every birthstone on the hardness chart
How to clean and care for Turquoise
| Warm soapy water | Safe |
|---|---|
| Ultrasonic cleaner | Never |
| Steam cleaner | Never |
Heat, light and chemicals: Stable to light; high heat can discolor it; it dissolves slowly in hydrochloric acid and can be discolored by cosmetics, skin oils and perspiration.
Treatments to ask about
Some turquoise is treated to improve the surface; heat and solvents can damage treated surfaces.
Can you wear Turquoise every day?
Delicate Soft or easily damaged. Best for pendants, earrings and occasional wear. Check other stones.
Compare Turquoise
Turquoise vs Tanzanite · Turquoise vs Zircon
Frequently asked questions
What is Turquoise?
A soft, opaque blue to green gem colored by copper (blue) and iron or chromium (green).
What month is Turquoise the birthstone for?
December. It shares the month with Tanzanite and Zircon.
How hard is Turquoise?
5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Toughness: fair to good.
How do you clean Turquoise?
Warm soapy water: safe. Ultrasonic cleaner: never. Steam: never.
What does Turquoise symbolize?
Turquoise has decorated jewelry, ceremonial masks, weapons and bridles for thousands of years. These are traditions and history, not claims about what the stone can do.
Sources
- GIA: Turquoise care and cleaning (hardness, toughness, stability, cleaning, treatments)
- AGS: Turquoise (what it is, colors, sources, history)
- American Gem Society: Birthstones (birthstone months)
Checked October 16, 2026.