The mineral turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones and remains one of the most popular.
Despite its extensive use in jewellery turquoise is relatively soft and fragile.
Most superstitions associated with turquoise come from its tendency to fade or change colour as a result of not being well looked after.
Due to its popularity a huge amount of fake turquoise is in circulation. Most of this material comes from China.
Fake turquoise discovered in Egypt suggests it's likely to have been the first natural stone to have been imitated.
Turquoise is one of only a few minerals to have given its name to a colour.
On the modern birthstone chart turquoise is listed at the birthstone for December.
TOURMALINE
