Turquoise is called Gyu (and pronounced "yu") in Tibet. It has a special place in the hearts, culture and traditions of the Tibetan people. Turquoise has been used as a store of wealth through the ages and has been worn as protective jewelry for eons. Many Tibetan amulets incorporate turquoise into the design, in fact.

Turquoise is indigenous to Tibet, with much of the local supply coming from the Lhasa region, the Gangschan mountains, Draya, and the mountains of Derge. Tibetan turquoise tends to have significant matrix; pure blue stone is difficult to come by.