Did you know that the many stones used to create some of the most unique beads craved by jewelers have different properties? If you knew that, do you know what the different properties are? To help better inform those who are new to beading, here is the first of many helpful articles that will focus on the most common stones used by beaders today. The first stone that we’ll discuss is Turquoise, a beautiful stone that is very popular.

Part of the reason for why Turquoise is so widely used for beads and bead jewelry is its beautiful color. Ranging from a blue tinged white to a spectrum of blues to shades of green, its color is striking and easily catches the eye. The stone is made from hydrated aluminum copper phosphate and usually has veins of iron running all through it called inclusions. The copper creates the blue that turquoise is known for, while the green is derived from high levels of either iron or chromium.

An interesting characteristic of turquoise beads is that every turquoise mine produces a different strain of the stone, with each having different characteristics. As a result, the stone is always referred to by the mine that they come from. For example, there is the Sleeping Beauty turquoise and Kingman turquoise, which are very different from one another. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is a bright blue, with almost no inclusions running through the stone. Kingman, on the other hand, is darker in color and has many inclusions. Despite the differences from mine to mine, turquoise does have some similar traits. All turquoise is soft and chalky when first mined, making it easy to polish and craft into different shapes and qualities. Also, if left untreated, natural turquoise ages the same way, reacting to oxidation and body oils if worn in bead bracelets or other jewelry by darkening or turning green over time.

But where can you find turquoise? The answer to that is all over the earth! There are many mines that are found in the USA (chiefly in the Southwest states), Australia, Peru, Africa, Mexico, China, the Middle East, and Europe. Each locality has spectacular and unique turquoise that all can be used to create beads.

Something else to note is that turquoise has a quantity of other useful properties other than simply being pretty when used in bead bracelets. It has been revealed that the stone can be used to detoxify someone of alcohol, radiation, or poisons. Those who wear turquoise regularly believe that they can feel their immune system has become stronger and that they heal faster from their wounds. For those interested in the spiritual nature of this stone, it has been called the “stone of wholeness”, helping to connect them to both themselves and to those around them. It’s amazing how powerful and beautiful a stone turquoise really is!

is there something else you would like to learn about beads or bead bracelets? Come to Novobeads.com to check out great, American made products that are fully compatible with all major bead bracelet brands!. Also published at What Makes Turquoise Beads So Popular.

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Filed under: Gold Jewelry

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