TURQUOISE
I love natural non-reconstituted turquoise in all shapes colors and forms. This beautiful gemstone complements every skin tone and next to yellow gold they look divine.
WE love turquoise because According the Library of Congress, Turquoise was the first stone in recorded history of man to be used as a gem. We love to use turquoise in all the beautiful varieties it comes in. Turquoise compliments any skin tone and is equally appropriate in all four seasons. To name a few in the United States, most quality turquoise was and is found in the Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. We get nonstop compliments from lay people and gemstone experts alike on how beautiful our turquoise looks set in yellow gold.
Turquoises come in a variety of colors but our favorites are shades of robin’s egg colors varying from light greenish, to rich intense blue and may or may not have matrix inclusions in shades of pinkish beige all the way to brown.
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise:
One of the most sought-after kinds of turquoise coming from Arizona is the product of the now closed Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona. Since the depletion of the mines in Iran it possibly is, one of the most important Turquoise mines in the world. Its pure sky-blue color, little to no matrix or webbing, Sleeping Beauty turquoise is highly sought after. Since the mine closed, sourcing this gem has been one treasure hunt for collectors and designers alike. Lika loves a good treasure hunt and is up to the challenge to find something that no one else can find!
Kingman Turqoise:
In the Kingman Turquoise Mine is one of the oldest and highest producing Turquoise Mines in America. It was originally discovered by prehistoric Indians well over 1000 years ago. Kingman Turquoise is known for its beautiful sky-blue color and produces many variations of blue Turquoise. The Kingman Turquoise mine also produces green Turquoise that is beautiful.
Nacozari Turquoise:
In the same mountain range as the Bisbee mine, the mine for Nacozari turquoise is from Sonara, Mexico. Now a closed mine, this turquoise tends to produce turquoise that is blue with little matrix. Often called “Naco” is becoming highly collectible since it has become difficult to acquire.
Ribbon Turquoise:
Ribbon turquoise aka boulder r turquoise is when a stone cutter takes a natural vein in the stones natural host rock and cuts it the direction to create the veins going through the rock like a ribbon. We love the unique beauty of this affect and delight in using these when we can get them
No 8 Turquoise:
The name, Number 8 reflects the mine number found in Nevada. This highly collectible turquoise is known for the dark webbing with light to dark blue & hints of green shades with matrix that have golden, red and brown matrix. We try to use them when we can find them.
Acceptable treatments:
Kingman turquoise is very porous and soft and therefore is treated with oils to improve stability. While very popular with European fine jeweler, we never use reconstituted turquoise (re-formed from powder).
Care:
You may clean your turquoise in warm, water with very mild soap and dry it immediately with a soft cloth and never put it in an ultrasonic cleaner. Keep turquoise away from other harder gemstones to avoid rubbing against each other. Like many gemstones, keep turquoise away from heat, chemicals such as perfumes, cosmetics and oils. As turquoise is porous it is important to keep it away from any lotions, alcohol, perfume hair spray or other cosmetics and never wear your turquoise jewelry in the shower, hot tubs or swimming. Important: Turquoise should never be cleaned with an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.
Stay Connected with Lika Behar:
Upcoming Trunk Event
Our extensive jewelry collection travels to various retail stores around the United States to give customers a tactile Lika Behar Collection experience. Touch it, wear it, covet it.
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