Knitch Magazine

It’s said there are only two colors that complement every complexion: peach and turquoise. This summer, we’re fortunate to be seeing both these shades in fashion and in make-up.

The color experts at Pantone® have declared turquoise Color of the Year which means we’ll soon be awash in a sea of blue-green beauty.

“In many cultures, turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Milla Jovovich (right) was light years ahead of the fashion curve when she wore this spectacular gown to the 2008 Cannes Film Festival

Turquoise takes us away by instilling feelings of restfulness, natural energy, peace and growth – exactly what you’d expect when you blend the purity and relaxation of water’s blue to the growth and stimulation of nature’s green. This is the color of healing, prosperity and generosity. It’s a color that brings a respite from the troubled times…serenely reminding us that strength and balance will return as surely as the rhythm of life goes on.

Our passion for the color turquoise likely started with the stone which has been called turquoise since the 16th century. The name was taken from the French word “turquie” for the Iranian material which was imported through Turkey at that time.

It is believed that turquoise was the first gem ever mined, with the earliest known use of it occurring around 5000 BCE in Iraq. There it added a decorative touch to thrones, daggers, ornamental objects and clothing.

If turquoise was not the first stone mined, it was certainly the first ever replicated. In ancient Egypt soapstone was covered with a blue-green glaze to give the appearance of genuine turquoise, a coveted stone for jewelry and other decorations. It was so coveted, in fact, that if you were on your way to the eternal afterlife, you wanted to take your turquoise valuables with you: four bracelets made with the stones were discovered on the mummified arm of Queen Zar, who dates back to the Egypt's First Dynasty (approximately 5500 BCE). In China, three beautiful ivory goblets with inlaid turquoise were found in the tomb of Fu Hao, dating back to 1200 BCE.

This ancient gold and turquoise bracelet (left) likely belonged to royalty around 200 BC. It can be yours for $12,000 from Sadigh Gallery in New York.

The semi-precious stone has been popular not only throughout time, but also throughout the world. Dating back to pre-Columbian days, Aztecs, Zuni, Hope, Pueblo and Navajo tribes used it for trade, art, and adornment, crafting necklaces of turquoise beads, earrings, rings and pendants. Turquoise mosaics found in the great Maya city of Chichén Itzá in Yucatan date back to as early as AD900.

The Navajo believed this protective stone helps them find their way to heaven. They revered it for its healing qualities and thought it to have metaphysical properties, often being used as a precaution and a cure – not only to be carried at all times, but also to be consumed. Whether you suffered headaches, fever or other ailments, ground turquoise was considered the medicine of choice. Even today, there are those who believe in the healing powers of the stone and who carry it with them as an amulet for protection.

Today, the turquoise stones are still popular fashion items – typically associated with jewelry and accessories from the Southwestern United States – and the color turquoise is found everywhere from fashion runways in Milan, Paris, and New York to red-carpet events attended by luminaries of stage, screen and the music scene. Zoe Saldana, Eva Longoria, Kayla Ewell, Beyonce Knowles, and First Lady Michelle Obama look positively stunning in this most complementary of colors.

With its warm and cool undertones, turquoise can be combined with a wide range of colors to create a feeling of harmony that promotes a sense of well-being. It is as soothing as warm Mediterranean waters and as invigoratingly restorative as a walk through a crisp, green forest.

This spring we’re delighted to see the arrival of turquoise in sumptuous special-occasion gowns, pretty Roman-style dresses, and adding a splash of tropical color to neutrals.