Gems of the Southwest | GIA Knowledge Sessions Webinar Series

GIA Knowledge Sessions Webinar - recorded live on February 4, 2021.

The American Southwest has long been known for its distinctive jewelry, with the most iconic perhaps being Native American turquoise jewelry. An integral part of Navajo culture, turquoise beads are given to babies at birth and used in initiation rites and marriage and healing ceremonies. Other gemstones like opal, mother-of-pearl, and onyx have also been cherished throughout this region’s history. How have gemstones shaped the lore and culture of this region? What are the geologic conditions that allowed for the formation of these gemstones? And what sets these gemstones apart from those found in other places in the world? Discover all this and more as GIA scientist Aaron Palke and Emerald Tanner take us on a gemological journey into the rugged American Southwest.