How to Buy Turquoise Jewelry

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Beaded necklaces and dangling earrings with small stones that glitter in shades of blue, green, pink and yellow. Captivating as always, turquoise stones are very popular, both for their relatively low cost and their beautiful range of colors. Read on to discover what you need to know when buying turquoise jewelry.

How to Buy Turquoise Jewelry

Tips on buying turquoise jewelry

1. Turquoise is a water-based stone that forms in rocks that are rich in mineral content. The presence of certain minerals in larger quantities imparts a specific color to the stones. Turquoise is formed within rock and you will always see the remnants of the matrix (original rock) within the stone as dark marks. Some turquoises stones show a fine web of thin lines of this matrix within the stone. This type of turquoise is called ‘spider webbed’.

2. Since it has some amount of water content, turquoise is reasonably porous and soft when compared to a diamond or a sapphire. The stones are quite porous by formation and turquoise always needs some form of treatment in order to bring out the color in its best form. The basic treatment is stabilization – here the stone is treated with an epoxy resin or other substance in order to fill the pores so that the turquoise retains its color over time. Sometimes, turquoise is also treated with chemicals for color enhancements.

3. Unless specified as natural, most of the turquoise available in jewelry stores has been treated in some form or the other. Always make sure to enquire about the specific treatment that the turquoise may have undergone. Remember, jewelers are obligated by law to disclose any and all treatments on the turquoise stones that they sell.

4. Soft and porous by nature, always protect your turquoise from extreme heat and cold. Do not wear turquoise jewelry while doing any heavy work, or when there is a chance of knocks and jolts to the stones. Always clean with warm water and a soft cloth. Do not use a commercial jewelry cleaner since the chemicals may damage the stone surface. Store turquoise separately from other hard stones like diamonds since rubbing against these may scratch the surface of the turquoise.

5. The USA is a major supplier of turquoise, and you will see a lot of turquoise jewelry following the native American Indian tradition using traditional motifs and patterns.


Caution

Always enquire if the turquoise you are buying is natural or treated. Most of the commercially available turquoise available these days is treated in some form or the other. Treated turquoise is cheaper than the untreated variety, which is usually very expensive.


Where to buy turquoise jewelry

You can buy turquoise jewelry from a number of jewelers online. Try these links for some good deals and offers-

SkyStoneTrading.com specializes in natural, rare American turquoise jewelry, all one of a kind signed pieces. Also has a Turquoise Museum and in-depth information on turquoise mines.

CowboyandLady.com has a selection of hand-made turquoise jewelry made by native Navajo and Zuni artists.

Bernardine.com offers a wide range of turquoise jewelry in combinations with other stones like opals and onyx in silver and gold settings.

TimelessSilver.com has a good selection of turquoise jewelry in silver settings. They have a comprehensive range of turquoise jewelry for both men and women.

NativeJewelryOnline.com has a nice selection of native American hand made sterling silver and turquoise jewelry as well as other precious stones.


 


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