Gold layer
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Up to 15% of total weight
Gold-Plated
Ultra-thin layer
Ships in 2–3 working days
14-day right of withdrawal
Julia and about 11.500+ Nature lovers love & trust ByCarola.
Handcrafted · Signature Collection
Teardrop Turquoise Necklace
December birthstone · handmade
incl. VAT, plus shipping
-
- 925 sterling silver or 14K gold-filled
- Fine box chain, your choice of 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in)
- Stone size: about 8 to 10 mm
- Pendant and chain are water-resistant
- December birthstone
Handmade in Germany
Stone From China
In stock
Real & stabilized
Lumière very good
With you in 3–6 working days (DE)
Real customer photos
Thousands of happy customers since 2019
The Stone: Turquoise from the Phosphate Family
Turquoise is a hydrous copper aluminum phosphate, chemically CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 with four bound water molecules. It crystallizes in the triclinic system, but almost always as a microcrystalline, massive material rather than as individual crystals. Its color comes from copper, which turns the stone blue, while iron pulls it toward green. The dark veins, called matrix in the trade, are remnants of the host rock and usually consist of limonite. With a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6, turquoise is moderately hard and naturally porous. Its luster is waxy to dull and looks silky on polished surfaces. Every stone has its own pattern.
Material and Craftsmanship
You can choose between 925 sterling silver and a warm 14K gold-filled chain. 14K gold-filled is a real, thick layer of gold that is firmly bonded to a base metal. Unlike simple gold plating, which is applied only wafer-thin, wears off over time, and fades fairly quickly, 14K gold-filled keeps its warm gold tone for years. The turquoise is cut into a teardrop, polished, and drilled crosswise, so it sits directly on the chain and stays centered. It hangs on a fine box chain whose square links interlock closely. I thread each necklace by hand, one at a time. You choose the length when you order: 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in).
Meaning of the Stone
Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones known to humankind. In ancient Egypt, it was mined on the Sinai Peninsula from predynastic times, and in Persia it has been mined near Nishapur for more than two thousand years. Its name goes back to the French pierre turquoise, meaning Turkish stone, because it came to Europe by way of Turkey. By tradition, it stands for protection and clarity. As a birthstone for December, it makes an especially personal gift.
Caring for Your Turquoise Necklace
The pendant and chain are water-resistant and suitable for everyday wear. Because the stone is naturally porous and has therefore been stabilized, you should still avoid prolonged contact with salt water and chlorinated water, as well as perfume, lotions, and harsh cleaning products. After bathing or swimming, it's best to rinse the necklace with clean water and dry it carefully.
Turquoise shouldn't be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner or with steam, and it's best to protect it from high heat and long periods of direct sunlight, because both can change its color. Store your necklace dry and apart from harder pieces of jewelry, because with a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6, the stone is sensitive to scratches. This way, its clear blue will stay beautiful for a long time.
Hydrous phosphate
Turquoise is a hydrous copper-aluminum phosphate with a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6.
Blue through copper
Copper colors the stone blue, iron turns it greenish, the dark matrix comes from the parent rock.
December birthstone
Turquoise is the traditional birthstone of December and one of humanity's oldest jewelry stones.
Turquoise is one of humanity's oldest jewelry stones and was worn in Egypt and Persia. Traditionally, it stands for protection and clarity and, as the birthstone of December, is a personal gift.
100% genuine turquoise, stabilized
- 925 sterling silver or 14K gold-filled
- Fine box chain, your choice of 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in)
- Stone size: about 8 to 10 mm
- Pendant and chain are water-resistant
- December birthstone
The Lumière Factor is my transparent assessment of each stone's play of light. Turquoise is naturally opaque. That's why I leave out transparency and rate it in 3 categories of 0 to 25 points each.
This is how it is evaluated
- Color Depth · Saturation and vibrancy, dull versus bright, cool versus warm. (max. 25)
- Surface Integrity · Natural shape without chips, intact edges. (max. 25)
- Liveliness · Sparkle and movement in daylight and candlelight. (max. 25)
0–45
Basic
46–56
Good
57–67
Very good
68–75
Exceptional
This necklace
Good
Color Depth
24 / 25
Strong, evenly saturated sky blue
Surface Integrity
24 / 25
Flawlessly polished teardrop, intact edges
Liveliness
17 / 25
Silky, waxy luster instead of sparkle
In total
65 / 75
Germany
3–6 working days
€4.95 · free shipping from €150
Worldwide
5–10 working days
from €6.95 · Europe free from €170
- Handmade for you in 2 to 3 working days, then shipped with DHL and tracking
- Carefully packed in the Handmade Art gift box
- USA €35, rest of the world €10 shipping
Turquoise is one of the three birthstones for December, along with tanzanite and zircon, and it was already listed first on the 1912 birthstone list. In ancient Egypt and Persia it was seen as a stone of protection. By tradition it is said to stand for protection, clarity and calm, which makes it a personal gift for anyone born in December.
The stone is genuine turquoise, not dyed howlite and not a pressed imitation. Like by far most of the turquoise on the market, it is treated, or more precisely stabilized: its naturally open pores are filled with colorless resin, and then the stone is polished. This hardens it, protects it from skin oils, lotions and sweat and makes it suitable for everyday wear. Stabilized turquoise is a recognized quality in the trade, and I disclose it openly here.
A box chain is made of square links that fit tightly together. This lets it lie flat against your neck, barely twist while you wear it and keep the teardrop neatly centered. Its clean, geometric line gives a calm frame to the soft shape of the stone.
14K gold-filled is the higher-quality choice, and that's exactly why I offer this turquoise necklace in gold only as 14K gold-filled. Gold-plated jewelry has just a wafer-thin layer of gold on top, which wears off over time and fades faster. 14K gold-filled, on the other hand, has a much thicker, firmly bonded layer of gold. It costs a little more than plating, but it lasts so long that you can enjoy its warm gold tone for years.
The pendant and chain are water-resistant. Still, avoid prolonged contact with perfume, lotions and harsh cleaners, don't use ultrasonic cleaners, and keep it away from high heat and long periods of direct sun, since they can change the color. Store the necklace dry and separate from other jewelry, because with a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6, turquoise scratches easily.
The Difference
Gold-Filled vs. Gold-Plated
Best choice
Our Choice
14k Gold-Filled
Standard Jewelry
Gold-Plated
Gold layer
Up to 15% of total weight
Ultra-thin layer
Durability
Lasts many years with good care
Often wears off within months
Tarnishing
Rarely tarnishes
Discolours quickly
Wear
Keeps its new look
Flakes and wears off
Skin tolerance
Gentle on the skin
Can irritate the skin
Value
High quality and long-lasting
Cheaper, but less durable
Durability
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Lasts many years with good care
Gold-Plated
Often wears off within months
Tarnishing
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Rarely tarnishes
Gold-Plated
Discolours quickly
Wear
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Keeps its new look
Gold-Plated
Flakes and wears off
Skin tolerance
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Gentle on the skin
Gold-Plated
Can irritate the skin
Value
Top
14k Gold-Filled
High quality and long-lasting
Gold-Plated
Cheaper, but less durable
Origin of the stones
Gemstones with a clear conscience.
Every stone has a journey and I want that journey to be fair and transparent.
Consciously sourced
Handcrafted
Nature-friendly
100% real turquoise
Origin · Turquoise
Hubei, China
The turquoise in this necklace typically comes from deposits in the Hubei province of China, before each drop is hand-finished in my studio.
Carola
Founder · Designer
The woman behind Handmade Art
Hi, I'm Carola.
I am a biomedical scientist by profession and an artist by profession. In my studio in Oberhausen, I make each necklace by hand, stone by stone, bead by bead.
8+
Years of craftsmanship
1.672
wearers
100%
Unique pieces
Manufacturer Handmade Art by Carola · Carola Schade · Biefangstraße 1, 46149 Oberhausen, Germany · hello@by-carola.com
Good to you too
These pieces fit that
Hand-picked from my collection, each piece perfect for layering or as a gift.
Teardrop Turquoise Necklace
Gold / With chain / 45 cm
