Silver Turquoise Jewelry – the Gemstone

Turquoise is the lovely gemstone used in our huge range of silver turquoise jewelry. Technically it is a combination of aluminum and phosphates with some traces of copper oxide, which gives it its blue color, and iron, calcium, zinc and manganese oxide. The green color of the gems comes from the aluminum or iron and yellow from zinc. Green is the most common color for turquoise gems, and in fact blue gems very often turn green when exposed to light for any length of time. Different combinations of these elements give turquoise its range of colors with the most highly prized being those with an intense blue color and yellow colored gems having the least value. High quality gems, Persian turquoise for instance, do not tend to fade and keep their lovely blue color indefinitely.

Some gemstones have a main color with a spider web matrix on the surface of the gem consisting of lines of a different color. This is caused by uneven distribution of the different elements that are present in the gem and the lines may be brown, yellow or black in many different patterns. Pure colored gems however are more highly prized than those with a spider web matrix although a turquoise gemstone of intense blue color, even with spider web matrix, is more highly prized than green or yellow pure colored gemstones. Natural gemstones of a pure color, that is without a spider web matrix, are rarer and are very highly prized.

Turquoise Treatments

Less than 10% of the turquoise used is the naturally occurring high quality gemstone that is suitable for use in jewelry. Over 80% is treated from rough, soft turquoise to make it hard enough to be used. The treatment also improves durability and the color of the gems. Turquoise from some countries, for example China, is always too soft and needs to be treated. Htowever after treatment produces attractive gems, although less highly prized than untreated gems, still make wonderful jewelry. Treatments enhance the color of the gemstones as well as making them harder so that they last for much longer. A color treatment method used is to inject an epoxy resin containing a dye into the gemstone. The color is more stable and will remain unchanged. Chinese turquoise is hardened by injecting liquid plastic into the stone. Another method is to inject epoxy resin alone to stabilize the stone without changing the color.

Artificial turquoise is also made from either plastic all from powdered turquoise that has been mixed with a plastic binder. This type of turquoise is of course very cheap. These imitations may be sold as natural turquoise and may be waxed or plastic coated.

Care of Turquoise Gemstones

Turquoise is both soft and porous so should be looked after carefully. It should never be worn when it can become scratched and should be protected from blows at all times. Now wear turquoise jewelry when you are gardening for washing up! Store it in its own softly lined box not with other gems which could scratch it. Turquoise gemstones can absorb liquids so keep it away from hot water, oils, chemicals and even perfumes and cosmetics as they can be absorbed by the stone which will become dull and may change color. you can clean turquoise using very mild soapy water and drying carefully with a soft cloth. Make sure it is completely dry before you store it away and never use ultrasonic jewelry cleaners as they can result in cracking of the stone.

Conclusion

Turquoise is a lovely, attractive gemstone which is highly prized. Although it does have some disadvantages in that it needs to be carefully looked after and some of the blue stones can turn green over time it makes wonderful silver turquoise jewelry as a lovely blue color perfectly complemented by the silver.