In the Lapidary and Gemstone world, nothing is exact in the names of the various stones because of languages, regions and personal observations, unless you are down at the mineral level and even then sometimes language differences can effect that basic identity. Two such gemstones that are based historically on language and today on fancy market naming, are what is called Peruvian Turquoise and African Turquoise. Neither are Turquoise, but Chrysocolla and a Japer that look very similar to Turquoise in color..
Here we have a necklace set designed and constructed out of several different materials. We start with three large stabilized Arizona Turquoise Matrix nuggets, highlighted with white Coral rondel beads. The necklace is then completed with Sardonyx twists, Peruvian Turquoise rounds and more white Coral rondels interspersed with open globe gold plated beads and a Hook and Loop clasp. French hoo earrings with stabilized Turquoise rounds and Sardonyx dangles complete the set.
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Stabilized turquoise - Turquoise that is soft or normally referred to as "chalk" Turquoise is infused with a clear epoxy resin. This resin, under pressure, is absorbed into the rock, which permanently hardens the rock and deepens the color. Unlike the collectible natural Turquoise which deepens in color over time by gradually absorbing oils from the skin as it is worn, the colors in stabilized Turquoise are permanent. Most of the Turquoise on the market today is stabilized and should not cost as much as natural Turquoise. Stabilized turquoise can be very beautiful, and is a good buy. Because of it's hardness and consistant color, stabilized Turquoise wears much better in Jewelry.
.Peruvian Turquoise (Chrysocolla) is as old as the ancient cultures of the Incas and Aztecs. It is also known as Mesoamerican Torquoise. Peruvian Turquoise is actually "Chrysocolla", a semi-precious gemstone that comes in a wide range of appearances and colors. It is the copper in this silicate based stone which gives it the intense blues and greens. When it has been intermixed with chalcendony and or opal, it forms a stone hard enough to be cut and polished. It is in this rare form that it becomes suitable for use in high quality jewelery. A more common low grade chalky and soft chrysocolla can be dyed or painted to look like high quality chrysocolla. Beware these stones scratch easily and they look cheap when examined closely, they also lack the stunning veins seen in high grade Chrysocolla stones. Chrysocolla often can be found to have a similar colour to genuine Turquoise. It has been valued in jewelery by the Incas, Aztecs and other ancient cultures for its colour and beauty. High grade Crysacolla or Peruvian Turquoise can look absolutely stunning.
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Corals are marine organisms typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton which is used in the production of jewelry. Currently many species of Coraals, especially reef building varities, are being considered "endangered" and are under consideration for banning for use in jewelry and other decorative uses, following in the footsteps of Ivory. Sponge Coral, however, is not on the endangered species list, plus it is a sustainable product. Sponge Coral is a farmed product and thus is not removed from the Coral Reef and does not cause the environmental damage associated with traditional corals.
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Sardonyx is a variant of Onyx or Agate in which the colored bands are Sard in shades of red rather than black. Pure black Onyx, which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx with its banded colors of browns, whites and black. Onyx is usually called Sardonyx when the bands of red vary all the way from a light brown to almost black. When backlighted, and the stone is not too thick, one will see a reddish glow through the stone.
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