December Birthstone: Turquoise

I’ve been a fan of turquoise ever since my dad brought me a necklace with turquoise beads from a business trip when I was about 4. (I still have it, in fact!) As a young adult I visited New Mexico, and I couldn’t decide which hue I liked best — from the true blue to the blue-greens. I’ve come to the conclusion I like it all! (shocker, I know) I’m a fan of everything from vintage Native American Squash Blossom necklaces to sleek, modern pieces.

Turquoise, which gets its name from the French words for “Turkish Stone” has been part of the human culture since ancient times. Turquoise beads have been unearthed from 5000 BC, if you can believe it! Throughout history, this stone has been an amulet of protection, a sign of wealth and wisdom. It’s considered sacred by many cultures. In addition, this stone promotes:

-strength
-serenity & peace
-relieves stress
-heightens creativity
-aids the immune system
-grounds oneself
-promotes honest communication
-helps your body detox

With all these amazing attributes in mind, which piece of jewelry from the selection below would you pick if you had a bottomless wallet?

Ann Dexter-Jones turquoise ID bracelet

ann dexter-jones turquoise ID bracelet
Jennifer Meyer double drop turquoise and diamond earrings

jennifer meyer double drop turquoise and diamond earrings
Arik Kastan turquoise ring

arik kastan turquoise ring
Blackbird and The Snow rose gold and turquoise bird earrings

blackbird and the snow rose gold turquoise bird stud earrings
Suzanne Kalan turquoise ring

suzanne kalan turquoise ring
Pascale Monvoisin turquoise and diamond cuff

pascale monvoisin louise turquoise cuff
Feathered Soul sleeping beauty turquoise and diamond necklace

feathered soul sleeping beauty turquoise pendant necklace
Armenta green turquoise and opal band

armenta green turquoise and opal band ring
Zoe Chicco turquoise cuff

zoe chicco turquoise cuff
Andrea Fohrman turquoise crescent moon ring

andrea fohrman turquoise crescent moon ring
Now don’t forget, that turquoise is one of four birthstones for the month of December. If you missed my article on tanzanite, then click here to get caught up. Happy birthday to you December babies!

Ann Dexter Jones Bracelet

While working in Montecito this past week, I took a quick break to check out one of the newer shops in the upper village, called Julianne. It’s a modern, highly curated shop, and I thoroughly enjoyed browsing and chatting with the kind staff.

On my way out, I took a peek in the jewelry area…and stopped…and asked the gal to take out her key pronto. Was it a watch? A bracelet? I was completely intrigued.

ann dexter jones bracelet

Look at that mother of pearl face!!
Look at that mother of pearl face!!

It turns out that it was indeed a bracelet, designed by Ann Dexter Jones. The sheer scale and weight of the $14,000 piece was impressive. Here’s a shot of it draped over my wrist, to give you an idea of its size.

Wow!!
Wow!!

Made of sterling silver, 18K yellow gold and yellow diamonds, it was quite a spectacular bracelet, unlike I’ve ever seen before. I wonder who it will end up going home with. Oprah does live about 3 minutes from the store…just sayin’. 😉