Ladies' Turquoise & Opal Watch Cuffs | 14kt | Estate

What once was regarded a common byproduct of copper mining is now realized to be a rather scarce gem. Typically found in or near copper mines around the world, turquoise from each locality differs in color, quality, character, and rarity. Certain mines are known for producing highly valuable material in very limited quantity. Inclusions of other copper-bearing minerals such as azurite, malachite, and chrysocolla are not uncommon.

Turquoise ranks 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Because this is often not suitable for everyday wear, most turquoise on the market is hardened (or "stabilized") with electricity and/or polymer. Stabilization is viewed as an accepted, regular practice in the lapidary industry and is not to be confused with "dying" material. Dyed (or artificially colored) material is not viewed as favorably among dealers and collectors. It is very important to be careful when cleaning your turquoise jewelry. Turquoise is a porous stone that can absorb any harsh chemical used. Avoid putting your turquoise jewelry in chemical jewelry cleaners, and be sure to focus only on cleaning the metal around your stone.

While many believe opal to come only in a traditional white hue, this common misconception cannot be more inaccurate.  With over 200 varieties of natural opal discovered so far, the historically referred "Queen of Gems" can come in a wide variety of colors- before the stone's famous "play of color" rainbow effect is even taken into consideration.  Over 90% of the world's opal is produced in Australia with other well-known deposits located in Mexico, Ethiopia, Brazil, and the United States.

Chemically, opal is an integrated combination of water and silica.  Water content in opal can range from 3% to 21% by weight, with average jewelry material ranging between 6% and 10%.  Because of this, it is advised to store your opal jewelry with care; safes and bank vaults can be notoriously dry.  We suggest storing opal in an airtight container along with a piece of water-moistened cotton when dry storage conditions are anticipated.  Some varieties are more resilient to harsh conditions than others.  It is safe to clean solid opal jewelry with warm water, mild soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.  Avoid chemicals, harsh abrasives, and ultrasonic cleaners.

Your order will be processed and shipped within 4 business days. All shipments are insured by the United States Postal Service, and most orders of $500 or more will require signature confirmation upon delivery.

While we work hard to present our online customers with accurate inventory availability, we reserve the right to cancel and refund a sale if the item is sold somewhere else first.

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Item: Ladies' Turquoise & Opal Watch Cuffs | 14kt | Estate

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