Turquoise Jewelry

Well represented in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals in our National Museum of Natural History, turquoise is one of the oldest gem materials. In many ancient cultures it was believed to represent purity and was used as a protective amulet. Howlite, named for geologist Henry How, is a mineral that resembles turquoise's chemical structure. Our turquoise and howlite jewelry reflect specimens in the collection.