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 turquoise.

It pays to work with a reputable jeweler who will disclose where the gems were mined and what the materials are!

I work only with natural turquoise, no fakes! While I do have some inventory of natural Chinese turquoise from Mines in China, the bulk of my designs feature natural turquoise from Arizona, Nevada or Mexico.

Shop my turquoise designs here.

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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! this means you can wear it doubled up as shown here… or Super long as shown below.

The Spiral is an ancient symbol representing growth and evolution. A Spiral starts as a smaller tight circle expanding quickly to infinity. Each of our actions.. a quick smile to a stranger, holding the door for someone, a kind word to a friend..seem like small gestures but the ripples of joy created is infinite.  “No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.” Aesop

Shop my entire Sacred Spiral collection here.

Become an Alene’s Adornments Collector

Provide your Email and first name to Get First Look at newest designs, tidbits and legends about gemstones, jewelry care tips and of course.. COLLECTOR ONLY specials and discounts

The post What’s New in Spirals? appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

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 been stabilized special care is required to keep the gem looking fresh and new.
• Always put on your turquoise jewelry AFTER you have applied perfumes, sunscreen or makeup. Your design will absorb any of these products and affect the color and stability of your jewelry.
• Remove your rings before washing your hands. Any soap absorbed into the gem will alter it’s color.
• Do not add turquoise jewelry to an ultrasonic cleaner.
• Never wear your turquoise while swimming, especially in a pool. Prolonged time outdoors, like a day at the beach is a great time to leave the rings and other turquoise designs at home (or in the hotel room)
• The best way to clean turquoise is to dab the gem gently with warm water. then use a lint-free cloth (similar to a screen cleaner cloth) to pat it dry.

Follow these simple guidelines and your turquoise jewelry can be worn and them passed to future generations!

The post Care and Feeding for Turquoise Jewelry appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

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 artificial resin. This hardens the surface for cutting. Cabochons (which are used for pendants and rings) are often backed with a black resin to stabilize even more. This process results in natural turquoise gems

• Enhanced Turquoise: The gem is infused with vaporized quartz, resulting in a harder, more uniform stone. It also enhances the color. This process also results in natural turquoise gems but the colors can fade over time.

• Reconstituted Turquoise. Turquoise is crushed and bound with other stones to form a mineral paste. the paste is then heated and dyed to form a turqoise-like substance and can be shaped and made into beads. While technically this still involves natural turquoise, it is not considered the finest solution. Prices are much lower too.

I work exclusively with natural stabilized turquoise. The gems are hard enough to resist wear and tear of course. Mostly though they are beautiful! check out my turquoise jewelry collection here.

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