Turquoise. The world’s oldest gemstone.
Centuries ago, this timeless blue-green mineral made its way into the jewelry industry, and it’s still making a name for itself today. Known for its distinctive blue, turquoise is one of the few gemstones to have an official color named after it. While much of the focus is on its color, the origin of the stone determines its value. Jewelry designers working with turquoise want to know in which mine it was produced. Since domestic mines are much easier to trace, turquoise mined in the United States, such as the American Mined™ turquoise from Rio Grande, is some of the most sought after in the world.
In addition to its distinctive color, turquoise is favored for its versatility. While commonly set in sterling silver, its deep blue-green color pairs well with the warm glow of karat gold. This is articulated beautifully by goldsmith Cheyanne Prince of Cheyanne Jewels in Kauai, Hawaii, with the handcrafted 14k gold ring featuring turquoise mined in the United States shown below.
Christina Bjenning, metalsmith of Esmeralda Designs, expresses her spirituality in this “double rainbow” gold ring set with an American Mined™ Sleeping Beauty cabochon. “When a double rainbow appears in your life it is presenting you with an opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and evolution,” says Bjenning.
Along with a diversity of metals, turquoise combined with sparkling facets of diamonds has become a popular choice for custom jewelry. In the stunning 18k yellow gold ring shown below, designer Dillon Rose surrounds an American Mined™ Mona Lisa pear cabochon with a diamond-set band.
Caitlyn Dunn of Caitlyn Dunn Jewelry in Aspen, Colo., pairs American Mined™ Mona Lisa turquoise and conflict-free diamonds in these Ali studs she describes as “daily wear with simple elegance!” Daily wear, evening wear—no matter the occasion or style—designers everywhere are choosing turquoise for their wearable art. As the world’s available turquoise grows increasingly scarce, its origin becomes even more important. Through their American Mined™ collection, Rio Grande Jewelry Supply provides ethical sourcing for a growing selection of gemstones sourced from mines here in the United States. For designs featuring iconic turquoise, American Mined™ is an ideal starting point.
