

Introduction
Turquoise, the bluish-green gemstone that has been known to mankind for thousands of years, has captured the hearts of many – from ancient Egyptian Pharos to Native American tribes. In the past few years, turquoise has risen as a popular gemstone for making gemstone jewelry, especially turquoise rings. In this particular blog, we will explore what turquoise is, how turquoise stone is cut and used in making this gemstone ring, and how you can select a turquoise ring that complements your skin tone. All this knowledge will help you to make an informed buying decision as you shop for a turquoise ring, so, without further ado, let us start with understanding turquoise.
What is Turquoise?


You must have seen turquoise, the beautiful gemstone that comes in unique blue to greenish-blue hues – this stone is an opaque mineral that belongs to the phosphate family. This gemstone has been cherished since ancient times – in different tombs located in Egypt, you can find turquoise artifacts and turquoise jewelry that dates back to 4000 BC.
Mineral Composition of Turquoise
The chemical formula of the turquoise gemstone is CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8⋅4H2O, and in its essence, it is a phosphate mineral having a hydrated nature. The key constituents that make turquoise are as follows:
- Copper (Cu): The copper metal is responsible for the distinct blue coloration of turquoise.
- Aluminum (Al): Aluminum is a part of the structural framework of turquoise gemstone.
- Phosphate (PO4): Phosphate is the main constituent element of turquoise, and it gives turquoise the classification of a phosphate mineral.
- Water (H2O): Water indicates the hydrated nature of the turquoise gemstone.
Physical Properties of Turquoise
- Color: The color of turquoise ranges from light blue to deep blue-green, and this color is often the result of the presence of copper (which gives turquoise the blue color) and trace amounts of iron (which gives turquoise green hues).
- Luster: Typically, when turquoise is cut and polished into cabochons, it exhibits a waxy to subvitreous luster.
- Hardness: Turquoise is a soft stone – it ranges between five and six on the Moh’s Scale of Mineral Hardness.
- Specific Gravity: Approximately between 2.6 to 2.9, indicating that turquoise is denser than many other minerals.
- Refractive Index: Varies between 1.61 to 1.65.
Formation of Turquoise
Generally, the turquoise gemstone is formed in arid or semi-arid regions where copper-rich groundwater having an acidic nature reacts with minerals containing aluminum and phosphorus. This process tends to happen in sedimentary environments where copper leeches from the surrounding rocks and reacts with the host rock containing these minerals. The result of this leeching is the formation of turquoise in seams or nodules within the host rock. For this geological process to occur, three things are required:
- Presence of copper-bearing minerals.
- Acidic groundwater that facilitates the chemical reactions that occur over long periods of time.
- A stable environment that allows slow accumulation of the mineral.
How is Turquoise Typically Cut & Used While Making Turquoise Rings?


The vibrant colors of turquoise make it a highly valued stone that is used a lot in the field of jewelry making. Here is an overview of how turquoise is typically cut and used when making turquoise rings:
Cutting Techniques for Turquoise Rings
- Cabochon Cut: One of the most prevalent designs within turquoise rings is the cabochon cut. In these cuts, you will find the turquoise stone shaped into a smooth, rounded form without facets, and since this cut highlights the stone’s rich colors, it’s perfect for rings, earrings, and pendants. The cabochon cut allows the bright colors of turquoise to shine while also highlighting the unique features of the stone, like the presence of a matrix, which is basically black-to-brown lines that run through the stone.
- Bead Cut: Turquoise is often shaped into beads, which are nothing but round or oval turquoise stones with holes drilled in them to allow stringing. If you go online, you will find many e-commerce stores selling beaded turquoise rings in which turquoise beads are strung together to form a ring. These rings are extremely popular as bohemian-style jewelry.
- Inlay Cut: The inlay cut involves shaping turquoise to fit snugly alongside other stones and materials within a turquoise ring or turquoise pendant. In essence, inlay is a decorative technique that often involves cutting into a surface and inserting contrasting gemstones into the cut-out space. The inlay technique requires skill, and it is most commonly seen in more intricate designs where turquoise complements other gemstones or metalworks.
- Nugget Cut: Within the nugget cut, the stone retains its natural form – with the only difference being that the stone is polished so as to make its surface shiny and beautiful. The nugget cut is favored in the bohemian and rustic jewelry styles, and looking at turquoise rings having nugget cut, you will notice that they have an earthy appeal.
Usage of Turquoise in Making Turquoise Rings
- Styles of Turquoise Rings: Generally, you will find turquoise rings in classic designs and statement pieces. The classic designs feature a single turquoise cabochon set in 925 sterling silver or gold, while the statement turquoise rings feature large turquoise stones that are set in the ring to give a bold look.
- Materials: Talking about metals, 925 sterling silver is one of the most common metals that is used in making turquoise rings because it is highly affordable and aesthetically pleasing. Other than sterling silver, rose gold and yellow gold are also popular choices. Some other stones that are paired with turquoise are coral and lapis lazuli. Both these stones create a visually striking contrast when paired with turquoise.
Specific Turquoise Ring Styles That Complement Different Skin Tones


When you select a turquoise ring, it is essential that you think about how various shades of turquoise and the metal settings complement different skin tones. Below is a brief description that will help you in choosing the perfect turquoise ring that matches your skin tone.
Turquoise Rings for Cool Skin Tones
- Characteristics: Individuals who have cool skin tones generally have a pink, blue, or red undertone. These people sunburn very easily and they possess bluish veins.
- Turquoise Selections: Cool shades of turquoise (like the turquoise that looks bluer and not greenish) look beautiful on cool-toned skin. The blue shades of turquoise not only create a harmonious look but also enhance the natural brightness of the skin.
- Metal Choice: You may opt for silver, white gold, or platinum setting in your turquoise ring. All these three metals complement the cool skin tone really well.
Turquoise Rings for Warm Skin Tones
- Characteristics: People with warm skin tones usually have yellow, peachy, or golden undertones. These people tend to tan very easily and they have greenish veins.
- Turquoise Selection: Warmer shades of turquoise, specifically the ones that have greenish hues, are ideal for warm-toned individuals. Not only do these colors enhance the warmth of the skin, but they also provide a vibrant contrast.
- Metal Choice: You can select yellow gold or rose gold setting if you have a warm skin tone – both these metals work wonderfully with a warm skin tone.
Turquoise Rings for Neutral Skin Tones
- Characteristics: Neutral skin tones showcase a mix of both warm and cool undertones, and it becomes challenging to categorize what to wear with neutral skin tones.
- Turquoise Selection: You can wear both cool and warm shades of turquoise if you possess a neutral skin tone.
- Metal choice: Both 925 sterling silver and gold look great on neutral skin tones.
Conclusion
In this blog, we’ve explored a lot about turquoise rings. Remember, that each turquoise ring you have in your collection tells a story – a story that is uniquely yours. Armed with the nuanced information conveyed in this blog, you can select the perfect turquoise ring for yourself which would feel fulfilling and rewarding to you. With that being said, let us ask you: would you like to purchase turquoise rings at wholesale rates?
Many retailers come in a tough spot when they wish to purchase wholesale gemstone rings and other 925 sterling silver jewelry. Their main trouble is, how to find the perfect wholesale gemstone jewelry manufacturer and supplier who would meet all their needs in gemstone jewelry. We, Rananjay Exports, can solve this problem for you – we are India’s biggest wholesale gemstone jewelry supplier. At Rananjay, we not only deal in turquoise jewelry (like turquoise rings, earrings, and bracelets), but we also deal in gemstone rings in a wide variety of natural and ethically sourced gemstones. So, browse Rananjay’s website and make sure you check out our entire range of sterling silver jewelry, the most popular ones being zodiac sign jewelry, and chakra jewelry.