Sacred Jewelry

We offer a range of stunning turquoise from a private collection.

Sacred beauty of Turquoise

Ancient Egyptians, Aztecs, Greeks, Persians, Chinese revered this sacred stone. It has also been worn and sought after for centuries in India, Japan, Tibet and the West, for its beauty and special properties.

Turquoise, an opaque blue-green stone, is generally worn as an amulet to protect its wearer, changing colour with the wearer’s health. Combined often with other stones such as lapis and coral, the ancient world holds many examples of turquoise items of great beauty, rarity and wealth such as Tuktakhamen’s mask. Today many consider turquoise as the birthstone of Sagitarrius, protector of the traveller.

In Tibetan healing, turquoise has an important place, being worn to protect one’s vital energy (Bla), its unique colours associated with Yuthok, founder of Tibetan medicine. Its special import for Tibetans is also reflected in turquoise being considered as part of a person’s wealth.

Beware of imitations

Linked to the Egyptian goddess Hathor, turquoise was the first gemstone to be imitated as faience, a glazed ceramic product. Coming in many shades from the bright Iranian blue to the green and mottled yellow of the American Indian turquoise, natural turquoise, a mineral which is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium is rare and still much sought after.

Historically light waxing and oiling were used to enhance colour and lustre but the gemstone today is also subject to treatment such as to bonding or stabilisation using epoxy and plastics or dyes to enhance colour. Today much imitations such as white dyed howlite or magnesite are used to pass off as turquoise. However, the most extreme treatment of much turquoise today is ‘reconstituted’ turquoise whereby small pieces are crushed and bonded with resin to form a mass. Often such turquoise can be made entirely from resins and dyes with no natural stone.

Natural turquoise that is not treated permanently with epoxy or plastics or reconstituted commands a higher price, retaining the special qualities of this precious gemstone. As a phosphate mineral, the stone is sensitive to perfume, sunscreen or hairspray and other cosmetics which may change its colour or dehydrate the stone. Therefore it is good practice to periodically clean your turquoise with a soft cloth and store it where it can ‘breathe.’

Tanadugshop guarantees the sale of natural turquoise. Check our courses for a better understanding of this unique and precious stone at iattm.org.uk

Sacred Mantras Hand-Made In Silver

Wearing the sacred need not be without beauty. Tanadugshop online offers a unique range of special, mantras hand-made in silver and very artistically done, combining the sacred with beauty. Each particular piece of our sacred mantras has followed proper rituals of empowerment according to Tibetan mantra healing practice.