Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones and also one of the most popular.
Despite its extensive use in jewellery, turquoise is relatively soft and fragile.
Most superstitions associated with turquoise stem from its tendency to fade or change colour when not well cared for.
Buy from a reputable source because there's a huge amount of fake turquoise in circulation. It mostly comes from China.
Fake turquoise discovered in Egypt suggests it's likely to have been the first natural stone to have been imitated.
It's one of only a few minerals to have given its name to a colour.
Turquoise is one of the birthstones for December.
TOURMALINE
