Mad About Color - Turquoise
Did you know that Turquoise is the fashion color for 2010? According to color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, Pantone, LLC announced PANTONE® Turquoise as color of the year for 2010.
The color Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters, often representing a feeling of escape – perhaps to tropical beaches with tranquil waters and sandy beaches away from the everyday troubles of the world. If you're designing jewelry for sale or looking to keep up with current fashion trends, color can't be overlooked.
History of Turquoise
Turquoise was one of the first gemstones ever mined, and it has been revered by many cultures as having mystical and protective powers. The blue of the sky and the green of the sea making up the color turquoise create feelings of happiness, cheerfulness, and calm. The color of Turquoise can range from a deep blue to a light green. Stones with a higher copper content appear bluer and are considered more valuable, while stones with more iron are greener.
Turquoise in Jewelry
When using Turquoise in jewelry, lighter shades have a more feminine appeal, darker shades a more sophisticated look. By mixing Turquoise with lavender and pale pink you’ll enhance the feminine quality in your designs. Pairing Turquoise with orange or yellow creates a fresh, sporty look, while Turquoise with gray, silver, terra cotta, or light browns create a Southwestern look.
Intense blue-colored Turquoise without matrix (brown, light grey or black spidery veins) comes from Iran. Turquoise from the American Southwest and Mexico is light blue to greenish blue with matrix. Mined in China for thousands of years, this greener-colored stone accounts for most of the Turquoise sold today. The value of Turquoise is based on its density, color, matrix, and rarity.
The hardness of the stone determines its grade as a gemstone for jewelry purposes.
The terms "natural," "stabilized," "treated," or "reconstituted" are commonly used when referring to Turquoise. "Natural" refers to gemstone grade stones (hardness 7), which are rarer. They are impervious to body oils and the color remains consistent over time. Nearly all Turquoise produced today is "stabilized" to preserve the color and integrity of the stone. Because Turquoise is a porous soft mineral (hardness 5-6), stones are infused with a clear epoxy resin to harden the stone, deepen the color and prevent skin oils and cosmetics from being absorbed and causing discoloration. "Treated" Turquoise has had mineral oil, paraffin, or plastic infused to improve the color. "Reconstituted" Turquoise is made from small chips and pulverized stone to which dyes and plastic resin are added.
To clean Turquoise, wipe with soft damp cloth. Do not soak it, and keep it away from all chemical cleaners, high temperatures and direct sunlight.
Click here to read the complete Pantone Color Report.