Vibrant blue hues, with intricate veins of brown and black, also known as its matrix, turquoise has become so significant that we use it today as an every-day colour name. The name 'Turquoise' is thought to derive from the Levantine traders that transported the stones from the eastern mediterranean to western Europe, labelled at the time as 'Turks'. It's popularity extends back millenia, from ancient civilisations to modern day applications; for example as accents of colour to decorate landmarks such the breath-taking Taj Mahal in India.
