| Original Message: Your strand appears to be untreated |
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Thanks for posting your strand. It's not possible to be sure from a photo but I'd guess that your beads are natural turquoise. I don't see any tell-tale puddles of plastic filling the crevices. Neither do I see darkening in the crevices typical of shoe polish or other "enhanced matrix" tricks. Some stones appear to have absorbed body oils and deepened in color. Most are a light blue typical of mid grade stone. Turquoise has been enhanced for a long time. Early on with grease & oils, later with wax and colored wax. Sometime in the 50's resin or epoxy was first used to stabilize turquoise. I don't remember when shell workers in the Philippines began to make heishi to supply the US market. I suspect the shell heishi on your necklace is from the Philippines rather than being made at Santo Domingo Pueblo. All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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