O Turquoise has been prized by every culture including those of Persia, Tibet,
the Aztecs and Incas of South America, and the East and Far East, where it was honored as a lucky stone. It has
been mined for eons, since at least 6,000 BC by the early Egyptians. The name turquoise means " Turkish stone
" because the trade route that brought it to Europe came via Turkey.
O Native Americans have prized this gem for over 4 centuries. Red coral, sometimes
called "precious coral," was believed to change color according to one's health, but only if the stone
was not fashioned by man. Strings of coral were considered a gift of royal proportion in parts of Africa, and the
ancient Romans touted its curative powers. |
