It is a very fragile stone and must be stabilized in an arsenic solution. By the time it reaches you, it’s perfectly safe as a teething ring, as long as you wash it!
Do not clean your turquoise in anything but a gentle soap and water solution. You can use pearl cleaner, but not too often. The stone is porous. Over the years it will pick up the oils from you skin and turn a different shade, even when stabilized. It is also fragile and will shatter without great difficulty.
If you have turquoise set in sterling, have it cleaned professionally. I learned the hard way. Do not use jewelry cleaner on it. If you are in a pinch, use sudsy ammonia in a quantity of warm water. Swish the piece quickly, then run it under warm water immediately. Never forget that turquoise will change color with the introduction of the most innocent of chemicals.
You can still find old turquoise, untreated, in jewelry. The places to look, if you feel a bit daring, is at Trading Posts. Also try pawn shops and ask for Dead Pawn. I’ve found several magnificent pieces that way. But, because you are getting personal pieces, make sure you are getting sterling and not nickel silver, which looks like silver.
You might also run across a piece of jewelry made out of “Mexican Silver” or coins. Until the advent of the very serious wholesale jewelry business in the 1960’s, traditional artisans would often use Mexican silver coins.
Silver and Stones
When you buy a cuff bracelet that does not contain a stone, that is silver only, you can manipulate it to fit your wrist. When stones are present and the bracelet is a little large, you will pop the stones if you aren't careful. When you do, you will discover they are set in a bed of a matrix that looks like very fine sawdust. A good jeweler can repair the stone. When you have it repaired, suggest a little super-glue on the bottom of the stone.
To adjust a cuff bracelet with stones, put it on your wrist. With your other hand, clasp the bottom of the bracelet. The warmth of your hand will gradually allow you to move the silver ever so slightly.
Most Southwest tribes have ‘fat fingers.’ If you have small fingers, like we do in our family, you may need to have your rings custom made or take them home to be sized. If you are sizin, make sure you do not damage any designs that might be on the band or inside the ring itself. Do not damage the sterling hallmark and under no circumstances do any sort of damage to the signature of the artist.
Article comments
1 - Emil
Yes! Maria Martinez has a great history of pottery making. The San Ildefonso Pueblo has manny great potters.
2 - Sheilah Link
Found your article very helpful and read it even though it was not quite what I was looking for. It was well written and an easy read. Thank you.
3 - Diana
I've found that a great place to buy quality native american art pieces, whether it be pottery, jewelry, rugs, or other crafts, is from a store in Albuquerque, New Mexico called Palms Trading Company. It is a family owned business that sells great products at great prices. To view some of the various items the store sells, go to their website. The store sells authentic pieces, as artists come in daily to trade for other pieces or to sell their work. Check it out-you won't be disappointed.
4 - Swarovski Crystals
Yeah thats great article indeed.I like the history of Pottery making.