Fashion Howlite
2011
Turquoise – Fake Vs. Real
Silver turquoise pendants have been popular for several centuries now, and today has claimed the spot of being the most popular and valuable opaque gemstone for fashion and fine jewelry. Because of this demand for turquoise, many sources around the world have been depleted, and additional exploration notwithstanding, the available turquoise in the world is coming smaller. One of the unfortunate aspects of this high demand is that the market has been flooded with fakes. So when you buy turquoise jewelry, you would be well advised to be cautious. Here are a few points to consider when buying turquoise:
- When buying turquoise jewelry, seek out stores – local or online, as you choose – that have a strong reputation for honesty and integrity. As the seller to put his or her claims about the turquoise in writing.
- Decide whether you want to buy stabilized turquoise or natural, untreated turquoise. Natural gem-quality turquoise is rare and quite expensive. If you are buying a piece of expensive fine jewelry, then you will likely want to buy natural turquoise. On the other hand, if you are buying fashion jewelry costs a few tens of dollars, you would be wise to buy jewelry with stabilized turquoise.
- Plastic imitations are quite common. To see if your “stone” is a plastic fake, heat a pin and touch it to the “stone” in an inconspicuous spot. If it melts, you know that you have a fake.
- Howlite is another fake that is common in the marketplace. Howlite is a form of calcium carbonate. If you drop a tiny quantity of dilute hydrochloric acid on the howlite, it is fizz and turn a shade of green. Genuine turquoise will have no reaction.
- In some cases, turquoise beads are used in a necklace. When used in a white pearl necklace or other similar application, the turquoise bead will have a drilled hole. Look into the hole, and if you see white, you most likely have a fake.
This is also an appropriate place to discuss the process of stabilizing turquoise. Most natural turquoise is so soft that it cannot be used directly in jewelry. So it must be first stabilized before being used in jewelry. This is done by infusing the stone with a stabilizing agent such as epoxy resin or vaporized silica. Using epoxy resin is more common and less expensive than the silica treatment. Silica stabilization cannot be identified even by experienced gemologists. On the other hand, an experienced gemologist can see globules of epoxy resin under magnification. Gemologists the world over agree that stabilized turquoise is genuine turquoise.
About the Author
Dale is a geo-professional in the Southwestern United States, and an avid and amateur gemmologist and a jewelry buff. He writes often on gems, their application in jewelry designs, and their origins. He is also a technical person and writes about consumer products such as cheap MP3 players, iPods, netbooks and other electronic devices for personal entertainment and use.
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