Yes there is a difference in types of turquoise! This gem has been imitated often. For instance, African turquoise is really a quartz agate stone that is a turquoise color. Furthermore the gemstone called Howlite (which is white with black inclusions) is colored blue and sold as turquoise. And lets not forget the other stones, or resins that are colored blue and sold as … [Read more...]
What’s New in Spirals?
The OPEN SPIRAL Pendant! I have been playing around with new pendant designs centered around the Sacred Spiral. From all this playing emerged the Open Spiral concept. The frame is copper with a sterling silver spiral. And of course I have to add gemstones! These natural turquoise beads are from the Sonoran mine in Mexico. The neck chain in sterling silver is 36" long! … [Read more...]
Care and Feeding for Turquoise Jewelry
We've covered a lot of 'turquoise' ground over the last few weeks. Previous blogs told us about the legends surrounding this gem, the origin of the name, locations where turquoise is mined, colors or turquoise.. and lots more. Now it's time to learn a few do's and dont's to take care of your precious turquoise jewelry ! Turquoise is a porous stone. Even if it has … [Read more...]
Visions of Turquoise Dance in my Head..
Turquoise for the most part is quite porous. This means it is vulnerable to chipping or fading over time. Some of the earlier turquoise mined in Persia was more stable but sadly those mines are depleted. What is done to protect the stones so we can wear our jewelry without worry? The primary processes are: Stabilized Turquoise: The rough material is soaked in an … [Read more...]
