CHECK OUT THAT RICH AZURE HUE..! (THE COLOUR OF THE SKY ON A CLEAR DAY) THIS INCREDIBLE, NATURALLY COLOURED, UNTREATED MATERIAL REPLETE WITH IRON PYRITES IS QUITE TOUGH AND TAKES A SUPERB POLISH WITHOUT MUCH TROUBLE AT ALL. IT IS SO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER TURQUOISE MATERIAL THAT I’VE CUT BEFORE. DUE TO ITS HARDNESS, IT WEARS WELL AND SINCE EVERY PIECE HAS ITS OWN CHARACTER, IT MEANS THERE’S HARDLY EVER A MATCHING PAIR. IT SIMPLY REINFORCES THAT OUR CREATIONS ARE INDEED UNIQUE PIECES. THE RESULT, ESPECIALLY WHEN CUT AS HIGH DOMES AND SET IN EITHER GOLD OR SILVER IS SIMPLY EXQUISITE.
NISHABUR, PERSIA
All the Victorian era and earlier turquoise that I saw so often in my valuation work were sourced from mines in Persia (now Iran). Historically, these mines near the city of Nishabur (on the ancient Silk Road network) nestled in the Binauld Mountains produced some of the finest quality turquoise and I’ve found the gem rough is not easy to purchase outside of that country. With some gentle persuasion this year, I finally purchased my first parcel of turquoise from these ancient mines.