Genuine Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Traditional Bear Claw Sterling Silver Belt Buckle.

This Genuine Turquoise Bear Claw Silver Belt Buckle is an impressive piece of hand made jewelry art. This Belt Buckle features a pair of nuggets of genuine Sleeping Beauty Turquoise (the Tiffany of Turquoise). This Turquoise has been set up against a brilliant display of Sterling Silver. This impressive belt buckle is also dressed with a genuine Bear Claw. Sterling Silver feather figures, hand made Sterling Silver beads, and a hand twisted Sterling Silver wire give this belt buckle extra detail. Turquoise and Silver, you can never go wrong with that. The Buckle is 2-5/8" by 3-3/8" with a 2" wide keeper on the back. Signed by the artist Lucky. Stamped Sterling.

Despite being one of the oldest gems, probably first introduced to Europe (through Turkey) with other Silk Road novelties, turquoise did not become important as an ornamental stone in the West until the 14th century, following a decline in the Roman Catholic Church's influence which allowed the use of turquoise in secular jewelry. It was apparently unknown in India until the Muhgal period, and unknown in Japan until the 18th century. A common belief shared by many of these civilizations held that turquoise possessed certain prophylactic qualities; it was thought to change color with the wearer's health and protect him or her from untoward forces.