| Silver turquoise pendants and other turquoise | | | | surface of the turquoise. Do not use harsh |
| jewelry are very popular, especially in the | | | | cleaners to try and remove dirt and grime. This |
| American West. It is not hard to understand that | | | | will likely damage the stone beyond repair. Also, |
| love for and fascination with the blue stone. The | | | | do not soak the stone in water. Turquoise can be |
| bright blue color of the stone has inspired many a | | | | relatively porous, and while a stabilization |
| jewelry designer to create works of art | | | | treatment may have reduced the near-surface |
| incorporating turquoise. In addition, for those who | | | | porosity, the stone will still absorb water. So its |
| believe in metaphysics, turquoise is a positive and | | | | best not to keep jewelry soaked in water. |
| protective stone that provides many benefits to | | | | Turquoise can be relatively soft and may contain |
| the wearer. So once someone has purchased a | | | | concealed zones of weakness. So do not use |
| piece of turquoise jewelry, the owner must take | | | | ultrasonic jewelry cleaners on your turquoise |
| good care of it in order to be able to use it for | | | | jewelry. When doing cleaning work around the |
| years to come, and to possibly even pass it on to | | | | house, first remove turquoise jewelry. If you |
| become a family heirloom. | | | | don't, the chemicals in the cleaners may have an |
| The formation of turquoise started many million | | | | adverse reaction with the turquoise. Similarly, do |
| years ago, and was formed under high stress and | | | | not expose turquoise jewelry to makeup liquids |
| temperature. One would expect the product of | | | | and perfume sprays. Again, the stone may |
| such environmental conditions to be hard and | | | | absorb these fluids and slowly breakdown with |
| strong. However, that would be an incorrect | | | | time. |
| assumption. Most turquoise found in nature is | | | | One important consideration is the other |
| relatively porous and of low density. In many | | | | properties of the other materials used in the |
| ways, turquoise is a relatively fragile stone that | | | | jewelry. Whatever cleaning method you choose |
| needs careful attention and maintenance to | | | | to use, make sure that the process is protective |
| maintain its appearance and quality over long | | | | of all materials in the piece. For example, in a |
| periods of time. Here are a few tips for making | | | | cultured pearl necklace with a turquoise pendant, |
| sure that your jewelry is kept clean without | | | | the pearls are in all probability, more delicate than |
| damaging the stone. | | | | the turquoise. So when picking your cleaning |
| Turquoise does tend to pick up dirt, grime and oil | | | | technique, make sure that your methods and |
| from the skin. So it is important to clean turquoise | | | | cleaning materials will not damage the pearls. With |
| jewelry periodically. Dip a soft cloth or q-tip in | | | | these and some commonsense, you can clean |
| warm water and use it to gently wipe the | | | | jewelry without damaging the stones and settings. |