Southwest Jewelry

Turquoise is the symbol of New Mexico’s timeless quality!

“The word turquoise comes to us from French and means Turkish stone, seemingly, because the mineral was first introduced to Western Europe from Persia, by the way of Turkey. But the Moors of Spain also delighted in the use of turquoise, their source being North Africa where the ancient Egyptians knew of it as early as the fourth century B.C. In Spanish, the word is turquesa.”

Allure of Turquoise; New Mexico Magazine.

Self-Adornment is as old as civilization itself. Necklaces and bracelets have been

found from the Paleolithic period

(c.25,000-18,000BC)Found objects; shells, bones

Earliest evidence

of turquoise Northeastern

site in Arizona; c.500 AD

ChacoCanyon

c.500-700ADAncestral Pueblo

The Most Proficient of All “Anteologists”

Both species of harvester ants native to New Mexico-the dark brown or black Pogonomyrmex rugosus and the reddish-orange Pogonomyrmex occidentals, or western harvester ants are legendary for debilitating stings that deliver some of the most toxic venom of all insects.

Treated or Untreated?

#1Real stones bright blue-hard enough to keep shine and can be cut

#2Rough Chalk Turquoise:Stabilized treated under high pressure with a clear plastic resin that brought out

the brighter shades, began1960’s.#3 Dyed stabilized

#4 Reconstituted: process begins with tiny chips of turquoise, mixes them with epoxy, then treats

them under pressure to create nicely colored chunks big enough to make

into jewelry.

#5 Temporarily treated: oil, paraffin, lacquer, polishes, powders, pulverized abrasives, silicon carbide,

aluminum oxide, water; rubbing, soaking, tumbling, boiling on stove

or oven; lasts days to months then gone!

#5 Plastic:Lowest form

Grades of Turquoise

Traditional

Traditional style

mold of volcanic tuff or tufa carved by

White Eagle, 1970’s(cuttlebone, sandstone)

Other Things to know Spin cast: Lost wax process

Fabricated: soldered together;Look carefully at edges, joints,

thickness of metal

Fetishes: especially an inanimate object, that is revered or worshiped because it is believed to have magical powers or be animated by a spirit

Cerrillos Mine OwnerDoug Magnus

Ray TraceyNavajo Nation

Things To AskIf over $35.00

* History of piece?*Stating source of the stone.

What kind of Turquoise: Treated or Untreated, Stabilized, Dyed ?

* Hallmarks- Artists, 925, sterling?

* Guarantee Indian handmade; tribal affiliation?

*ALWAYS---- Get a Receipt!IT’s THE LAW: to protect you!

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