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Native American Turquoise and Silver Earrings

Native American Turquoise and Silver Earrings

Description

These beautiful earrings are tear drop hoops made from stablized small turquoise nuggets. The nuggets are warmed with both copper and black matrix. They are separated using silver plated metal beads.

Please note that the turquoise color in the center picture is truer to the actual stones. The photograph is "bluer" than the actual piece.

The earwires are made of surgical steel with wrapped wire and ball beads.

The turquoise portion of the earrings is 2 inches long and slightly more than 1 inch wide at the widest point of the tear drop. The earwires will bring the total drop of the earrings to 2 1/2 inches.

These affordable turquoise earrings will look great with either casual or dressy outfits.

BUYER BEWARE: The market is flooded with "turquoise" that may or may not be what you are told. In buying turquoise, one must have some knowledge of turquoise characteristics and purchase only from a reputable dealer.

The following will explain some of the differences in turquoise and help you determine if you are paying for what you are getting:

STABLIZED TURQUOISE (This is like these earrings)
Stablized turquoise has been treated with epoxies or acrylic resins. The chemicals are infused into the turquoise by soaking the material for a long period of time, or by subjecting it to pressure.

ENHANCED TURQUOISE
Enhanced turquoise has been treated with chemicals, then heated. The heating process eliminates any residual chemicals in the turquoise. Therefore, it is difficult to tell the difference between enhanced turquoise and natural, untreated turquoise. Unlike natural turquoise, enhanced turquoise usually does not turn green over time.

NATURAL PROCESS TURQUOISE
The Natural Process is a new and exciting enhancement process for turquoise. Natural Processed turquoise has been treated with completely non-toxic chemicals. This process improves the polish and color of turquoise rough, without any dyes or nasty chemicals. If Natural Process turquiose is soaked in water for 24 hours, it is impossible to detect the difference between it and natural, untreated turquoise. Natural Processed turquoise is therefore the least invasive and highest grade of treatment available for turquiose. Unlike natural turquoise, Natural Processed turquoise will not turn green over time.

NATURAL TURQUOISE
As you might assume, this turquoise has not been treated in anyway other than polishing. If subjected to water, natural turquoise, a soft stone, will have changes in color.

RECONSTITUTED OR CHALK TURQUOISE
Reconstituted turquoise is natural, or previously stabilized material that has been pulverized into a powder, soaked in binders and then pressed back into a solid block. Reconstituted turquoise cuts easier than stabilized material, but has a lower value. Lapis, coral and other semi-precious gems can also be reconstituted.

BLOCK, IMITATION, OR "FAUX" TURQUOISE
None of these are real turquoise. Instead, it is a simulant made from plastic, ceramic, dyed lesser quality gem stones, or other material. Other semi-precious stones, such as malachite, lapis, charoite, etc. are also frequently simulated with block materials .

Remember to only purchase turquoise (or other gem stone items) from a dealer you can count on to tell the truth.

Mvto and Wa-do (Thank you in Creek and Cherokee) for viewing!

Added on Aug 24, 2009