Sterling Silver 925 Yazzie Navajo Kokopelli Malachite, Turquoise, Oyster

Turquoise jewelry can be dated as far back as 8800 BC. Paleo-Indians in the American Southwest drilled and shaped stones for jewelry using Turquoise as the main material. Thousands of pieces were found in Ancestral Pueblo sites at Chaco Canyon.

For the Native American culture, Turquoise signified water and sky, for bountiful harvests, health and protection according to Maxine McBrinn, Curator of Archeology at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Blue-green symbolizes creation and the hope for security and beauty.

For the Native American Navajo tribe, the color turquoise represents happiness, luck and health. (The History of Navajo Turquoise)

The Native American tribes also used turquoise as a means of personal adornment and to visually showcase their individuality, rank and history. (History of Jewelry)

As a birthstone for December, turquoise is regarded as a love charm. It is also a symbol of good fortune and success, and it is believed to relax the mind and to protect.