Turquoise Specialist Mini Course
The Color Turquoise
Where Does the Word “Turquoise” Come From?
The English word “turquoise,” now used as the name of a gemstone and color, originated in 13th-century France. It cones from the French word turquois for “Turkish.” The people of Medieval Europe believed this gem came from what is now known as Turkey. To them, the stone likely had strong associations not only with the color but also with the assumed source. To these Europeans, turquoise was a colorful gem from an exotic location. Many modern European languages also use a similar name for this gem: turkoois in Dutch, turchese in Italian, turkus in Polish, for example.
Other cultures and languages have different
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Emily Frontiere
Emily Frontiere is a GIA Graduate Gemologist. She is particularly experienced working with estate/antique jewelry.
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