Turquoise is a much coveted gemstone for jewelry all over the world. The best quality turquoise comes from Iran. Specimens from this country are often of such high quality that they can be used in jewelry with only cutting and polishing. Turquoise from most other sources must be stabilized with epoxy resin or vaporized silica. Stabilized turquoise is considered to be genuine turquoise. Because of the high demand for this gemstone, a few unethical sellers have resorted to selling fake turquoise. Here are a few tips to help you distinguish genuine turquoise from fake turquoise. Over the years, sellers have been passing off a variety of materials as “turquoise”. These include ceramics, bone, color-enhanced minerals, and more recently, celluloid and plastic. As the first step, only buy turquoise from reputed dealers that you trust. Even then, ask them to provide written documentation stating its authenticity. The bright blue color should be uniform throughout the stone. An experienced gemologist can identify identify fakes under magnification strengths of 30X to 50X. Plastic fakes weigh much less than natural stone. Look into the hole drilled in the stone. If you see white, it is probably an imitation. Touch a heated pin or needle to an inconspicuous part of the "stone". If the needle goes through, it means that the “stone” is most likely a plastic. Various forms of calcium carbonate are sometimes dyed and passed off as turquoise. Add a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid. If the surface fizzes, it is probably fake.
No comments:
Post a Comment