Chinese Turquoise Graduated Heishi Gemstone Beads, 5-16mm - Special Purchase (strand)

Turquoise has been revered for thousands of years. Its name means "Turkish stone" in French, a reference to where Persian material passed on its way to Europe. Turquoise is considerably softer than quartz, and is usually treated for stability. Chinese turquoise is generally stabilized using either wax treatment, resin stabilization and/or dye to improve the naturally soft stone's wearability. This gemstone occurs naturally in shades ranging from sky blue to grey-green, usually in locations where the soil contains high concentrations of copper.

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