Turquoise, a precious stone of Persian origin
Turquoise is a fine blue-green to green stone, often dotted with black or brown veins. The etymology of the word "Turquoise" comes from the Old French turcois , today meaning "Turk", or "from Turkey".
The natural blue stone was mainly mined in Iran , formerly known as Persia. In this region, it served as a protective talisman against the evil eye and was even considered a currency.
Turquoise was introduced to Europe by Venetian merchants during the Crusades. Although it did not originate in Turkey, it was imported via that country through its trade route, hence its nickname "Turkish stone".
It was officially named "turquoise" in the 17th century. At that time, Turkey was one of the main countries to mine this stone, and it remains an important center for the stone trade today.
