Natural turquoise is naturally a soft (easily
scratched) and fragile (easily broken) stone. As such, it
needs to be handled with care. Turquoise that has been
stabilized with polymers is much less prone to scratching and
breakage. Store turquoise by itself, not with other
jewelry with hard stones or metals that could scratch it.
Use of a jewelry pouch may address this concern.
Turquoise is also easily damaged by solvents
because if is a phosphate mineral. It should be protected
from perfumes, skin lotions, hair sprays, sunscreens, and other
cosmetics. These can damage the stone's surface polish.
Contact with oils in the skin should be avoided as well for the
same reason. Most jewelry cleaning solutions should also
be avoided.
Over time, exposure to the sun can lead to
discoloration and dehydration. Store your natural
turquoise jewelry in a dark place. Do not wear it on sun
bathing occasions or at the beach, but free free to use it often
on evening outings.
Always clean your turquoise with a soft, clean cotton cloth.
Credits
The photo of the turquoise pendent, top right, is courtesy of Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition.
The photo of the earrings in a sterling feather setting is courtesy of the Turquoise Trader.
The Balinese connector photo comes from Bali Kingdom.