The name "turquoise" is derived from the French "pierre turquoise," or "Turkish stone," referring to the location where the caravan trade routes originated. Turquoise is one of the earliest mined gemstones and was used by the Egyptians thousands of years ago.

For centuries, the most valuable turquoise came from Iran (Persia) but today some specimens mined in the southwestern United States compete with it. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, or "Persian Turquoise", does not have the black or brown veining commonly found in turquoise mined in the United States.

The color of turquoise is, of course, turquoise, but its range of color varies from green and greenish blue to sky blue shades.

Turquoise is found in Australia, China, Chile, Iran, Mexico, Sinai and the United States.

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