Top Things To Consider When Buying American Turquoise Jewelry
The
captivating and distinctive nature of turquoise is one of the reasons why Native
American jewelry is very popular in The United States of America. Most
people are familiar with the rich greens and blues of turquoise but they are
not sure what to look for when buying turquoise jewelry. Once you know the
difference between treated stones and untreated stones and how they are graded,
it will be easier to choose a quality jewelry piece.
Things that affect the value
of turquoise
The
presence of large quantities of certain minerals imparts a specific color to
turquoise. The following things affect the price and value of turquoise.
Color
Most
turquoise is blue but colors can range from vivid shades of yellow-green to
white depending on the location where the stone was formed. Some stones show a
fine web of fine lines. This type of stone is known as spider-webbed turquoise
and is used in some Native American turquoise jewelry.
The
minerals within the turquoise stones can also change its quality and hardness. Therefore,
some of the more expensive and collectable stones will be very deep green or
pale blue rather than more common blue color.
Grades
The
turquoise grade you buy indicates its quality. The highest quality turquoise
usually come from specific places and they are generally given AAAA, AAA, or AA
grades. This includes stones that have webbing, have unusual or bold colors and
can take a very high polish.
Treatments
A
lot of turquoises found in Native American Jewelry shops in
America has been treated in some way unless it is specified as natural.
Jewelers are obligated by the law to disclose all treatments of the stones that
they sell. You should always ask if the turquoise in a piece of jewelry has
been treated before you buy. Some of the common treatment methods used include
color enhancement and stabilization.
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