When it comes to building your Native American jewelry collection, one of the best places to start is by investing in some beautiful pieces with turquoise stones. Known across the world for its unique and symbolic properties, turquoise jewelry has played a significant role in Southwestern Native American jewelry craft. Considered to be alive with positive energy, this stone is also said to aid mental functions and bring forth protective spirits for the wearer. If you’re looking to buy some beautiful Native American turquoise jewelry to add to your collection, check out some of these tips to ensure you know everything you need about the stone you’re buying.
Natural Turquoise
When it comes to turquoise, the stone itself is quite porous and soft. This means that only the highest quality turquoise can be cut and polished without any sort of treatment. Another thing to note is that natural and untreated turquoise may change color over time due to moisture and body oil absorption. If you’re looking to purchase higher quality untreated turquoise, make sure you find out as much information as possible from the dealer about proper care and any color changes you should anticipate.
Turquoise Colors
There is a wide variety of colors and hues for turquoise, so before you purchase any, make sure you do a bit of research to find the exact color match you’re looking for. Some mines produce specific colors, but generalizing like the sentence I deleted isn’t the way to go here.Many turquoise stones also have darker veins that are remnants of the original rock deposits and can add an authentic feel to the stone, such as Boulder (also known as Royston Ribbon) turquoise.
Turquoise Stabilization
While it is possible to purchase untreated turquoise, the reality is that most turquoise on the market these days has been infused with epoxy resin in the stone’s pores to harden the stone and make it more stable. The resin also aids in stabilizing the stone’s color, and these treatments have allowed for quality turquoise to become more widespread and accessible to the average consumer. When you’re looking to purchase your turquoise, make sure to always inquire about what sort of stabilizing treatments have been used, as this will influence the maintenance and care regimen you use on your turquoise Native American jewelry.
Shop Native American Jewelry & More with Us Today
At Palms Trading Company, we work closely with Indigenous artists from Pueblo communities across the Southwest to ensure all of our turquoise jewelry is authentic, beautiful, and stable enough for the long haul. If you’re interested in adding a piece of Native American turquoise jewelry to your collection, get in touch with us today and let our free personal shopper service help you find the perfect new piece for you or your loved one.