The beautiful and rich blue-green color of the turquoise mineral has captivated people for centuries. It is no surprise, then, that turquoise stone jewelry is extremely popular. There is no better way to showcase this beautiful and unique color and stone than by wearing a chunky turquoise necklace. Chunky jewelry has experienced an exciting comeback in recent years, and with the current summer trend for bright, vivid colors in fashion, accessorizing with a chunky turquoise necklace is a perfect style choice.
History of the Chunky Turquoise Necklace
The history of turquoise jewelry dates back many centuries. In fact, artifacts indicate that jewelry made from turquoise existed even during the time of the ancient Egyptians. One can only imagine how beautiful the gorgeous sky and ocean blue colors of the turquoise would have looked against the rich golden and jeweled adornments of ancient Egyptian royalty.
The stone first made its way to the Western world, in Europe, by way of the middle eastern country of Turkey. Interestingly, our modern name for the stone, “turquoise,” comes from an old French word meaning “Turkish,” indicating this interesting historical and geographical line.
In North America, turquoise jewelry, such as the chunky turquoise necklace, can be traced back to at least the sixteenth century. At this time, Spanish explorers traveled into the southwest – what is now Arizona – and reported meeting native Americans who were wearing beads, bracelets, feather headdresses and earrings that were made from or decorated with turquoise.
The southwestern United States is now widely considered one of the centers of turquoise mining and production. Although some of the highest quality turquoise stones in the world still come from the Middle East, especially Iran, those stones are seldom exported. If one were to purchase a chunky turquoise necklace in the Western world today, that turquoise would likely have come from Mexico or the southwestern United States.
Unique Properties of a Chunky Turquoise Necklace
Turquoise has long been attributed with several special properties. The stone has been a symbol of prosperity and wealth in numerous ancient cultures. It is also one of the oldest amulets worn for protection from harm. Other traits attributed to turquoise include: a connection to spirits, psychic ability and sensitivity, increased strength, protection from negative energy, bearer of good fortune and peace, and symbolic of friendship.
Chunky Turquoise Necklace Fashion Ideas
A chunky turquoise necklace can be worn with a wide variety of ensembles. It is a truly unique accessory, being both fashion forward and timeless. The rich blue hue of a chunky turquoise necklace as well as the bold size of the turquoise stones makes it a wonderful contrast against more subdued, neutral colors. However, it can also provide an additional spark of vibrancy to an already colorful outfit. Here are some chunky turquoise necklace fashion ideas:
- Classic and casual: Chunky turquoise necklace with fitted white top and blue jeans with sandals
- Evening elegance: Chunky turquoise necklace with a sleek form-fitting black dress with a scooped neckline
- Spring daytime look: Chunky turquoise necklace with an orange floral printed sundress
- Summer daytime look: Chunky turquoise necklace with a white eyelet mini dress and flat sandals
- Hair and earrings: Chunky turquoise necklace with your hair up in a high ponytail to emphasize your neck and décolletage and simple copper and turquoise earrings