The History Of Turquoise Beads
Making turquoise beads as well as other stone beads is an old craft and integral part of Native North American history.
Many bone and stone beads are still made like they were hundreds of years ago. Used as trade for thousands of years, beads made from shell, turquoise and other gem stones have a magical lure and important place in the making of jewelry.
Turquoise beads can be smooth and round, carved into the shape of an animal or other interesting form, freeform nugget shape or flat disks called heishii beads. One ancient form of beaded necklace is to combine carved turquoise animal and other figures in conjunction with other beads to make story necklaces.
Each character in a story is represented by a bead in the necklace and the storyteller can show the children each character as the story unfolds.
Today, turquoise beads can be combined in a multitude of ways to create beautiful designer jewelry. You can still get a story necklace, although they are commonly called fetish necklaces today. Beads can be combined with other gemstones such as coral and mother of pearl or can be used exclusively in long or short necklaces. Graduated strand necklaces are quite desirable as are necklaces that combine bali sterling beads with turquoise. Of course the heishii necklace is quite popular for both men and women.
All turquoise and turquoise beads are quite porous and can change color to a greenish hue over time. Proper care must be taken to keep your turquoise looking new. Never use chemicals to clean it or put it in an ultrasonic cleaner. Put your jewelry on after you are done with hair spray, lotions, perfumes and makeup as these substances can build up on your jewelry and cause it to discolor. It is natural for turquoise to turn green over time when exposed to body oils and this greenish patina can give your jewelry a time worn look that is very sought after today.
Other Interesting Articles:
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Named for the mine it comes from, sleeping beauty turquoise is a vivid sky blue with no matrix.
Akoya Pearls
Akoya pearls, one of the first pearls to be cultured, have been harvested in Japan since the 1920's.
Multi Strand Turquoise Necklace
Bold and trendy, the multi strand turquoise necklace brings visions of jeans and tie dyed shirts.
What To Look For In A Quality Handcrafted Necklace
Wearing a handcrafted necklace can really set you apart from the crowd and be a great way to express your individuality.
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