@barry richardson , weren't you looking for some awhile back? Did you ever find a good source? Tony
A bit more on the real vs not that I learned tangentially by listening to the guy (Dayton Simmons) at the Silver Day Trading Co as he was speaking with another customer. Some turquoise is not completely "natural", that is, it has been what we would call stabilized with epoxy or resin (of course his sales pitch is that he sells only natural). He says that enhanced or stabilized turquoise does not work well as an inlay medium because it will not crush properly and to the consistency we use/require. Here is a link to an older blog about him and "processed" turquoise - http://sherrycordova.com/blog/2010/05/31/all-about-turquoise/.That's what worries me. I'm not sure which ones are real and which ones arnt. I guess the price might be a give away.
I have just accumulated it here and there. Some is kinda crappy (lots of brown rock inclusions, etc) and some was pretty decent. Got a couple of good deals on scrap from jewelry makers at a gift store in Prescott. There is lots of it on ebay, often called turquoise floor sweepings. I could spare you a little if you are in a tight spot.Would you be willing to share some or your source?
I have just accumulated it here and there. Some is kinda crappy (lots of brown rock inclusions, etc) and some was pretty decent. Got a couple of good deals on scrap from jewelry makers at a gift store in Prescott. There is lots of it on ebay, often called turquoise floor sweepings. I could spare you a little if you are in a tight spot.
I appreciate the offer Barry! I'm not in a bind, don't even have a particular project for it. Just one of those things I want to try and I would rather have it before I need it than have to scramble whrn I do. I'll probably pick some up at SWAT, I'm sure it will be there. Tony
Much
A bit more on the real vs not that I learned tangentially by listening to the guy (Dayton Simmons) at the Silver Day Trading Co as he was speaking with another customer. Some turquoise is not completely "natural", that is, it has been what we would call stabilized with epoxy or resin (of course his sales pitch is that he sells only natural). He says that enhanced or stabilized turquoise does not work well as an inlay medium because it will not crush properly and to the consistency we use/require. Here is a link to an older blog about him and "processed" turquoise - http://sherrycordova.com/blog/2010/05/31/all-about-turquoise/.
I don't know much more than that, other than the "natural" stones are really spendy and I found that each place I went to, not just his.
As a side note, there was one other couple in his tiny shop in Madrid, NM, a place that probably saw its zenith about 1885. He was selling this other couple, a gentleman about my age with a much younger, tall slender blond, a ring. After they completed and left I gave him my credit card for my tiny baggy of all natural turquoise he said "your name is Thomas Smart, so was that other guy." Huh, there really can't be too many of us. Tried to find them but could not. Whoa!
Tom - I realize that being in New York I have become pretty jaded but check your credit card statement. There are a lot of those folks with the readers that scan your cards with RFID scanners. I hope to hell I'm wrong but thats just too big of a coincidence.
I saw some of that, but only in jewelry form. Didn't ask the price for it.If you think turquoise is expensive, try to buy some White Buffalo turquoise!.