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Show me your turquoise jewelry!

Good afternoon, @theredspinel! So judging treatment can be a bit difficult to do through photos. And, in person, it's really sort of an intuitive thing after handling lots of turq over the years. But I will try to put it into words. Color, luster, and matrix (if present) help me in analyzing a stone. I'll use kingman as an example. It comes in pure blues, but they're typically a vibrant sky shade when untreated (it naturally comes in dark blues too, but that's another story). When kingman is impossibly, electric blue, I typically find the stone is treated. Gem grade (hard) natural turq does take a high polish, so that in and of itself is not an indicator. But the finish will look more glassy when natural, and color depth will be crisp. When stabilized, the color may look a bit "translucent" with a gel-like depth, and the finish may appear "plasticized." The same might be true for the matrix (the depth of color may be altered to, as if the mineral were wet.) Does this help at all? I may try to post photos of examples.

It does help, it all helps, so thank you very much for being so patient with us! And good afternoon/evening to you too :) it’s night time for us so one more episode on Netflix then off to bed! And oh my… consider that ring being considered :D

ETA: now I’m just being shameless… I found a stand of small white water that’s a bit more sea greeney blue/teal… can I get your opinion on this pretty pretty please!
 

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Hi @yssie! Thanks so much!! So the GIA will likely use a spectroscope to test whether the beads have been impregnated with resin. I did want to mention that there is another stabilization process called the "Zachary Method." It uses electrical impulses to harden softer turq (it does not use epoxy). This treatment, to my knowledge, is not detectable by any lab. So here's the thing, I wouldn't worry about it. If the seller said the turq is untreated, treat it as such. Make sure to thoroughly wipe it clean after each use so no oils, perfumes, or products are absorbed by the turq (this may cause a change in color from blue to green over the years). And think of it like this, if the beads are in fact treated, you don't have to worry about any of that. I actually prefer treated turq when we're talking about beads, because they're in constant contact with the skin (as opposed to a pendant stone backed with silver or gold). I think I speak for all of us when I say we'd love to see a photo of your beautiful bracelet! :geek2:

P.S. I wouldn't be too concerned about color treatments. Though lower grade Chinese material is often dyed, American turquoise is really ever color enhanced. It's simply not done. It stone's are stabilized, a colorless resin is used. Dyed turq is EXTREMELY obvious.

This is so helpful. Thank you!!

Avoiding perfumes and lotions, and wiping clean after use - that's how I treat my pearls and coral, but I didn't know I needed to handle turquoise the same way. I definitely would prefer my beads stay as blue as possible!!

And I will take your advice and not worry about treatments! All my other purchases from this vendor have always been as described, so I've got no particular reason for concern - my hesitation with these was only because I personally have no prior experience with (and obviously minimal knowledge about!) this material. I read about the Zachery treatment in a GIA article, I kind of assumed it was the norm but it sounds like it’s actually pretty unusual?

These are the beads - I bought a strand of them and restrung just a few into a bracelet. I was wrong on size - these are only 7mm! And some of them have a bit of matrix visible at the ends. And this is the cab. Well, this is one of a pair - this particular one is my MIL’s. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the sibling yet! The strand and cab both ran me several hundred each, which *seemed* to be the going rate for clean Sleeping Beauty stuff, so I guess in this case based on some of your earlier comments to others the cost is comforting as well!

Thank you, again!! ❤️

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This is so helpful. Thank you!!

Avoiding perfumes and lotions, and wiping clean after use - that's how I treat my pearls and coral, but I didn't know I needed to handle turquoise the same way. I definitely would prefer my beads stay as blue as possible!!

And I will take your advice and not worry about treatments! All my other purchases from this vendor have always been as described, so I've got no particular reason for concern - my hesitation with these was only because I personally have no prior experience with (and obviously minimal knowledge about!) this material. I read about the Zachery treatment in a GIA article, I kind of assumed it was the norm but it sounds like it’s actually pretty unusual?

These are the beads - I bought a strand of them and restrung just a few into a bracelet. I was wrong on size - these are only 7mm! And some of them have a bit of matrix visible at the ends. And this is the cab. Well, this is one of a pair - this particular one is my MIL’s. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the sibling yet! The strand and cab both ran me several hundred each, which *seemed* to be the going rate for clean Sleeping Beauty stuff, so I guess in this case based on some of your earlier comments to others the cost is comforting as well!

Thank you, again!! ❤️

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swoon :kiss2:
:kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2: :kiss2:
 
Those beads are beautiful, @theredspinel! They're likely (though not definitively) stabilized, but, again, that doesn't mean low quality or undesirable, especially for beads. The color is natural, which is the important part. And they're worry free!
 
That ring is ridiculously gorgeous, @yssie! Wow. Enjoy those beads too!!

So the zachary method is less common than resin impregnation, but I wouldn't say it is unusual. It is preferred to the standard epoxy process. But, again, collectors really don't devalue turq just because it's stabilized. It depends on the quality of the stone out of the ground. Color enhancement is a no-no though, of course.

Certain types of untreated turq are so hard that nothing is going to discolor it... like dry creek or carico lake (which is usually green anyway). But SBT that is untreated can be a bit more porous. So, yes, as far as untreated beads go, treat them like your pearls! Last thing you put on and first thing you take off. Cheers!
 
Those beads are beautiful, @theredspinel! They're likely (though not definitively) stabilized, but, again, that doesn't mean low quality or undesirable, especially for beads. The color is natural, which is the important part. And they're worry free!

Thank you thank you thank you! I can’t describe how much I appreciate all your time and effort on this, you have shared so much with us! I’m excited to report back, that ring is now mine *giddy*

I’m such a cynic by nature; it caught my eye and I loved the look of it but I told myself it had to be stabilised or treated or something - it was such a pleasant price! Plus it’s in the UK so no tax… everything lined up and that made me suspicious :D but after your opinion and then I did the husband test (“honey what do you think of this” and where the usual response is a half hearted grunt and “yeah it’s ok” THIS time, he stopped to look and said “Ooh that’s actually nice” :D so of course I didn’t waste another second and hit buy)!

And then… I kept looking at the beads, and I read your much earlier response of you prefer beads stabilised because they’re always against your skin (and @bluegems said this - I miss her) and stabilisation without colour *is* just a preservation of the beauty that already exists and I realised I felt the same way!!

The seller says unstabalised and she’s been in business for coming up to 30 years now, etc etc, so I realised either way I’m in love and more then happy to be the owner of them. So I’ve asked her to make them into a choker length for me, and add a small solid gold clasp :)

Now I just need to sit tight and wait for them to arrive home! I’ve also ordered one of your recommended books from Amazon (unfortunately none on prime) so that’ll take about a week hopefully.. so many goodies are on their way to me!!!!

And it’s all thanks to you. I did a forum search for turquoise last night, and I found an old post of mine from 2016 admiring someone’s turquoise and mentioning I was too nervous to take the plunge (into either buying or starting the educating process - turquoise is such a minefield and up till now it always felt overwhelming and un-understandable) but @Autumn in New England you made it easy. You made the knowledge so easy to absorb and gave a starting point and I’m in no way saying I actually have any turquoise knowledge yet :D but you gave that starting point where I feel confident enough to have made a purchase (2!) and I can’t thank you enough for that! I really can’t.

Turquoise has *ALWAYS* been something I’ve just loved so much, it’s been too hard to buy “right” until this thread.

Now I’m looking at some pretty dry creek turquoise on Etsy from the same seller, and Sonoran gold! What is happening to me.
 
@theredspinel

Oh honey, I'm just so ecstatic for you!! :appl: Honestly, if you opted not to buy that ring, I would have totally grabbed it (with you signing off on the purchase, of course)!! That stone is right up my alley, as you can probably tell by seeing some of my other pieces. I couldn't be more pleased for you, truly. I think you have a fantastic find there! And I must admit I'm sort of proud you've relaxed your "no treatment" policy (just a bit) with regard to turq beads at least. That's exactly how I think of it, and why the treatment is accepted in the trade... it does take softer material and harden it, but it also preserves the natural color. Plus, as you said, it's perfectly possible those beads are in fact unstabilized. Just be sure to treat them as such (wipe them down after each wearing, and keep them away for lotions, perfumes, soaps, etc.). I also hope you enjoy the book! I am a total nerd in that regard. No kindles for me... I want to touch and smell all of those glorious musty pages. :read:

It's funny you mention your husband giving his stamp of approval on the ring too... I find men just love turq on a woman. I think it's perhaps that they just tend to love vibrant blues... and women. lol

Welp, I can't wait for you to receive everything and hear your reviews. I hope you fall in love with turq. Big congrats, my friend!! :kiss2: Happy dances all around!!
 
@theredspinel

Oh honey, I'm just so ecstatic for you!! :appl: Honestly, if you opted not to buy that ring, I would have totally grabbed it (with you signing off on the purchase, of course)!! That stone is right up my alley, as you can probably tell by seeing some of my other pieces. I couldn't be more pleased for you, truly. I think you have a fantastic find there! And I must admit I'm sort of proud you've relaxed your "no treatment" policy (just a bit) with regard to turq beads at least. That's exactly how I think of it, and why the treatment is accepted in the trade... it does take softer material and harden it, but it also preserves the natural color. Plus, as you said, it's perfectly possible those beads are in fact unstabilized. Just be sure to treat them as such (wipe them down after each wearing, and keep them away for lotions, perfumes, soaps, etc.). I also hope you enjoy the book! I am a total nerd in that regard. No kindles for me... I want to touch and smell all of those glorious musty pages. :read:

It's funny you mention your husband giving his stamp of approval on the ring too... I find men just love turq on a woman. I think it's perhaps that they just tend to love vibrant blues... and women. lol

Welp, I can't wait for you to receive everything and hear your reviews. I hope you fall in love with turq. Big congrats, my friend!! :kiss2: Happy dances all around!!

I feel very happy indeed that my first turquoise buy was something had I not brought - a veteran turquoise collector would have :D ooh my! Thank you :D

Hahaha it’s funny what you say about men liking blue… and women.. I’ve found it to be the case!!

You know in the past week or so, I seem to have relaxed a lot of long held opinions! My view on white metals has also suddenly turned positive - I used to be absolutely certain white metals made me look washed out but I’ve been wearing my silver Larimar ring all day everyday and I LOVE the white against my skin now?! Go figure!

Plus now, when I look at clean SBT.. it doesn’t seem to make my heart race the way some of the other turquoise does?!! Never in a million years would I have imagined I’d choose turquoise with uneven colour and matrix over something as “perfect” as perfect SBT but here I am and here my heart is, going pitta patter over all the different kinds, yet oddly quiet over SBT.

I feel an itch for some of the lime green Sonoran gold (I’ve seen pictures on a specific turquoise forum (are you on it?) but I feel like I need a big piece (maybe a pendant) with metal backing, so I’d want the non stabilised kind… which as you know is tough to find! Some of the pictures I’ve seen on that other forum.. oof it must be the high quality kind that really glows from the inside.
 
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I recently got a promotion at work and had been looking for a little something to celebrate... I ordered this vintage turquoise bracelet from Ivy and Rose that I've had in my cart for months now! I will let everyone know how it looks in person. I hope it fits well! it was hard to tell from their measurements, but I have 6.25 inch wrist so hopefully it will be OK.
 
This necklace was from MIL's stash.
I don't know what kind of turquoise it is, but the color is nice!
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So beautiful @stracci2000

I’m finding I’m leaning more towards the teal /greeny blue turquoise now (I thought I preferred the classic robins egg medium blues before). So interesting how your views can change so much, just by delving in further!

ETA: and the turquoise colour turquoise… ooof
 
So beautiful @stracci2000

I’m finding I’m leaning more towards the teal /greeny blue turquoise now (I thought I preferred the classic robins egg medium blues before). So interesting how your views can change so much, just by delving in further!

ETA: and the turquoise colour turquoise… ooof

They're all so beautiful!
 
They really are!! I can’t believe it comes in soo many different tones/ colours in the blue green family, you could collect for years and still probably have different shades to collect.

So after everything I just said about preferring the blue greeny ones, my eye gets caught by the glow of this:

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Ai ai ai. What is happening to me. If I may be so bold and rude @Autumn in New England to ask you for your opinion on this stone, please?! It’s being presented as SB and completely untreated/natural.

*insert head smacking, worried looking, in the grips of a full on obsession* looking face here.
 

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Ok I thought this reading material would be appreciated here, it’s a piece on some identifier’s of Zachery treated turquoise (which I’m leaning towards being the case on the above ring o_O just so much to learn with turquoise)!


Very informative! And secretive.
I showed this piece of turquoise before, but I want to mention it again in reference to treatment.
It was given to me by a retired jeweler, and he said it was untreated turquoise from Egypt.
I don't know if the Egypt origin is true, but I'm confident that it is untreated.
I gave it to my friend Rodney the jeweler from Santo Domingo/Kewa Pueblo. He gave it back to me and said it was crumbling when he tried to slice it. It was unusable. So turquoise treatment really does make a difference in some material.
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And this is what happens to untreated turquoise over time. These items belonged to my MIL. You can see that the cuff bracelets are an unattractive dark green with putting and cracking, compared to the bright color of the stone in the concho pendant.
I guarantee you that when the bracelets were made the stones were not that color. This is often the case with Old Pawn turquoise.
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Very informative! And secretive.
I showed this piece of turquoise before, but I want to mention it again in reference to treatment.
It was given to me by a retired jeweler, and he said it was untreated turquoise from Egypt.
I don't know if the Egypt origin is true, but I'm confident that it is untreated.
I gave it to my friend Rodney the jeweler from Santo Domingo/Kewa Pueblo. He gave it back to me and said it was crumbling when he tried to slice it. It was unusable. So turquoise treatment really does make a difference in some material.
IMG_20180311_194238867.jpg

Thank you @stracci2000 for sharing this picture, I just want to bite into that blue! I watched a YouTube video on treated vs untreated and the guy just snapped the piece of untreated turquoise with his hands!! That’s how brittle /chalky it was :errrr:

I think I would love love love to own that top 3% (or something) of turquoise that is naturally hard enough to be set into jewellery without going through any stabilisation but I know… it’s probably every CS collectors pipe dream :mrgreen: (and let’s not mention the price I’ll probably pay for that luxury)! I need to go back and memorise the names of the mines dear Autumn mentioned that were never stabilised - I’m weird and just get a thrill from knowing something came “out of the ground like that”!

(If I could not get side tracked by the other types of pretty pieces long enough to do that)! I’ve sorta decided, turquoise is budget friendly enough (though still in the hundreds for each piece) I don’t feel greedy if I buy a few pieces…over some time, just for educational purposes because it was said you need to look at / hold quite a few pieces in the hand to get a good idea of turquoise…

ETA: plus this is my first foray into the beading world and I’m loving that!

ETA 2: and not just the beading world but the world of native Indian jewellery!! As I’m in the UK the only things we ever learn about the Native Indians are the meagre things we learn in secondary school, probably less then half a terms worth of information from history lessons. So reading about the history of turquoise in the US, has been so fascinating!
 
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And this is what happens to untreated turquoise over time. These items belonged to my MIL. You can see that the cuff bracelets are an unattractive dark green with putting and cracking, compared to the bright color of the stone in the concho pendant.
I guarantee you that when the bracelets were made the stones were not that color. This is often the case with Old Pawn turquoise.
IMG_20220129_075159114.jpg

Wow I love this comparison pic, thanks so much for sharing! I definitely see the appeal of stabilised and it really isn’t evil, I’m telling myself it’s just like a seal of clear nail polish to “lock in” the beauty so time can’t erode it :lol:
 
Loving lurking on the posts and admiring pieces posted here. I'd love to get a turquoise something one day, but not at this time.

This is NOT mine, but some eyecandy is never a bad thing.
Iranian turqoise stand 8.5mm to 19mm beads for 42k :oops2: I'm assume this is not anywhere near reasonable even for top Iranian material. But its beautiful and remarkably free of matrix. Wonder if its stabilized?
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ETA 2: and not just the beading world but the world of native Indian jewellery!! As I’m in the UK the only things we ever learn about the Native Indians are the meagre things we learn in secondary school, probably less then half a terms worth of information from history lessons. So reading about the history of turquoise in the US, has been so fascinating!

Ah, I didn't realize you were in the UK!
You may enjoy this photo of my DH's maternal great grandfather, second from the left. These men are from the Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico, photo is maybe c.1910-20. Not all Native Americans wore feathers in their hair!
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Loving lurking on the posts and admiring pieces posted here. I'd love to get a turquoise something one day, but not at this time.

This is NOT mine, but some eyecandy is never a bad thing.
Iranian turqoise stand 8.5mm to 19mm beads for 42k :oops2: I'm assume this is not anywhere near reasonable even for top Iranian material. But its beautiful and remarkably free of matrix. Wonder if its stabilized?
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:errrr: For that price I’d want it to be the top 1% ! Naturally so dense, it’d not change colour in your lifetime!
 
Ah, I didn't realize you were in the UK!
You may enjoy this photo of my DH's maternal great grandfather, second from the left. These man are from the Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico, photo is maybe c.1920. Not all Native Americans wore feathers in their hair!
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Wow wow wow thank you so much for sharing @stracci2000 ! I am so enjoying learning about the Native Americans (is that the preferred term - I am painfully ignorant :oops: please forgive me)! I’m in touch with a London gallery that sells jewellery made from the Kewa pebulo tribe and I can’t describe the joy I’m gaining from speaking with them…:kiss2: one day soon I hope to have my first ever native made piece of turquoise art!! So much joy and so many tangents to travel within this turquoise world:lickout:
 
@Autumn in New England let the games begin….

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And bonus pic including a pink tourmaline and black opal rings (because those 3 rings were the rings I was prancing around the house in when this heart stopper I mean, turquoise arrived)!

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Suffice to say I am well and truly *hooked*. Mesmerised. Overjoyed. Speechless. This is the stuff dreams are made off… Now whose suddenly feeling up for a holiday to the Caribbean?!!

ETA: what I can’t take a good picture of is how the matrix sparkles and glitters, it’s unbelievable. When I run my fingers across it I can feel the ridges between the matrix and where the turquoise is, it’s so grounding. I could play with it all day but I’m really trying hard not to keep touching it with my heavily hand creamed fingers!!
 

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@Autumn in New England let the games begin….

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And bonus pic including a pink tourmaline and black opal rings (because those 3 rings were the rings I was prancing around the house in when this heart stopper I mean, turquoise arrived)!

423BB4F7-C067-40BB-A249-6D2D908B933B.jpeg

Suffice to say I am well and truly *hooked*. Mesmerised. Overjoyed. Speechless. This is the stuff dreams are made off… Now whose suddenly feeling up for a holiday to the Caribbean?!!

ETA: what I can’t take a good picture of is how the matrix sparkles and glitters, it’s unbelievable. When I run my fingers across it I can feel the ridges between the matrix and where the turquoise is, it’s so grounding. I could play with it all day but I’m really trying hard not to keep touching it with my heavily hand creamed fingers!!

Its fabulous! What a gorgeous stone.
I'm glad you are thrilled!
 
Wow I love this comparison pic, thanks so much for sharing! I definitely see the appeal of stabilised and it really isn’t evil, I’m telling myself it’s just like a seal of clear nail polish to “lock in” the beauty so time can’t erode it :lol:

Yes
what im thinking too now
 
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