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The Turquoise Trail, by Linda Aksomitis

New Mexico’s National Scenic Byway is called the Turquoise Trail. Along the 62 miles connecting Santa Fe and Albuquerque you'll find historic landmarks, inviting attractions, and many opportunities to learn more about this gemstone and purchase your own pieces.  

Turquoise; A Treasure Through Time

More than 5500 years ago Queen Zar, of Egypt, passed into the afterlife with her arms adorned by her most valued jewellery, four turquoise bracelets. Centuries later the Anasazi, of Pueblo Bonita in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, mined this startling blue rock to produce beads and ornaments. The Zuni, Hopi and Pueblo peoples, who also used turquoise, believed it held secret healing energy and was the unifying power between the spirit of the air and the spirit of the earth. Whether for beauty or belief, we’re still drawn to this precious gemstone today.

The Turquoise Trail

New Mexico’s National Scenic Byway is called the Turquoise Trail, with its 62 miles connecting Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Along the trail you will find many opportunities to learn more about this gemstone and purchase your own pieces. The best place to begin your journey is the Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque. Tucked into an inconspicuous building in a tiny mall, the museum is home to an incredible array of turquoise treasures. In fact, there are samples from 60 turquoise mines around the world. Owned by the Lowry Family, who are also the owners of a turquoise mine, the museum combines a wide spectrum of knowledge, experience, and artefacts to create exhibits that are educational and exciting.

Knowledge Is Power; Are Your Turquoise Souvenirs Real?

I found the information I received from the museum made me a much wiser shopper buying my turquoise souvenirs to take home! Until the 1920s New Mexico mines were the largest producers of the US gemstone, however Arizona and Nevada have taken over that position. The biggest change, however, to turquoise jewellery in the last century is a result of new technology.

By law, the only turquoise stones that are guaranteed not treated or colorized, are those labelled “natural.” The most common treatment of inexpensive turquoise is to use a process, called stabilization, to take earthy or highly porous types of turquoise (usually white or light in color) and pressure-impregnate it with hot acrylic resins. The resins improve color, hardness, and durability so the material can be used in jewellery. These trinkets can be labelled 100% real turquoise, which they are—even if various aspects of the stone are enhanced.

Most shoppers in the southwest are also looking for authentic Indian craftsmanship in the turquoise gems they purchase. During the mid-eighteen hundreds, Navajo artisans learned the silversmith craft from a Mexican blacksmith hired by the US Army.

“Authentic” Indian Craftsmanship

The term “authentic” Indian craftsmanship, by New Mexico law, indicates the entire process involved in producing the piece was done by Indian hand labor, using manually controlled methods, which allow the artist to vary different aspects of the piece, from shape to design to finish. “Indian crafted,” on the other hand, is a term meaning the piece may have been created in part by machine. Of course there are lots of stops along the Turquoise Trail to buy authentic natural pieces of turquoise, and many more to buy less expensive items that are still beautiful by any standard. I did a lot of my shopping in Old Town, in the heart of Albuquerque’s heritage area. Some of Albuquerque’s best stops include Naranjo’s Gallery of Art, Mariposa Gallery on Nob Hill, the Concetta D. Gallery, and the House of Shalako.

Turquoise; A Treasure Through Time

New Mexico’s National Scenic Byway is called the Turquoise Trail, with its 62 miles connecting Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Along the trail you will find many opportunities to learn more about this gemstone and purchase your own pieces. So, whether you believe your turquoise jewellery will bring health and prosperity, banish all unpleasant dreams, or just make you feel more beautiful wearing it—schedule a trip along the Turquoise Trail with your next visit to the southwest.

Linda Aksomitis is an author and freelance travel writer. Of the 15 books she has either out or soon-to-be released,  five are with Backroad Mapbooks at  Two of Linda’s books are about snowmobiling, and she is the managing editor for www.snowridermag.com     You can read more about Linda’s work, including her children’s books, at www.aksomitis.com

 Above Photo Credits: © USA Travel Magazine, Linda Aksomitis

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