ColorWright Home     Beads     Books     Cabbing & Carving Rough     Cabochons     Faceting Machines     Faceting Rough     Jewelry and Pendants     Lapidary Machines     Meteorites     Rock Saws     Slabs     Spheres & Polished Stones     Tumblers     Turquoise Rough     Gift Ideas      ORDER     Turquoise Rough Index     What's New List     Our Privacy Policy     Contact Us     Blue Ice Stabilized Turquoise   Cameo Stabilized Turquoise   Campitos Azure Stabilized Turquoise   Campo Frio Stabilized Turquoise   Turquoise from Chile   Nacozari Stabilized Turquoise   Enhanced Sleeping Beauty Turquoise   Natural Turquoise   Treatments for Turquoise   mm to inches cm to inches inches to mm inches to cm carats to grams grams to carats grams to ounces ounces to grams grams to pounds pounds to grams 1/32 inch to mm 1/16 inch to mm 3/32 inch to mm 1/8 inch to mm 5/32 inch to mm 3/16 inch to mm 7/32 inch to mm 1/4 inch to mm 9/32 inch to mm 5/16 inch to mm 3/8 inch to mm 7/16 inch to mm 1/2 inch to mm 5/8 inch to mm 3/4 inch to mm 7/8 inch to mm Treatments: Stabilized Turquoise Stablized turquoise has been treated with epoxies or acrylic resins. The chemicals are infused into the turquoise by soaking the material for a long period of time, or by subjecting it to pressure. When stabilized turquoise is cut, there is often a plastic smell. Enhanced Turquoise (Zachary Process) Enhanced turquoise has been treated with chemicals, then heated. The heating process eliminates any residual chemicals in the turquoise. Therefore, it is difficult to tell the difference between enhanced turquoise and natural, untreated turquoise. Unlike natural turquoise, enhanced turquoise usually does not turn green over time. Natural Processed Turquoise The Natural Process is a new and exciting enhancement process for turquoise. Natural Processed turquoise has been treated with completely non-toxic chemicals. This process improves the polish and color of turquoise rough, without any dyes or nasty chemicals. If Natural Process turquiose is soaked in water for 24 hours, it is impossible to detect the difference between it and natural, untreated turquoise. Natural Processed turquoise is therefore the least invasive and highest grade of treatment available for turquiose. Unlike natural turquoise, Natural Processed turquoise will not turn green over time. Reconstituted Turquoise Reconstituted turquoise is natural, or previously stabilized material that has been pulverized into a powder, soaked in binders and then pressed back into a solid block. Reconstituted turquoise cuts easier than stabilized material, but has a lower value. Lapis, coral and other semi-precious gems can also be reconstituted. Block Turquoise Block turquoise is not turquoise. Instead, it is a simulant made from plastic, ceramic, or other material. Other semi-precious stones, such as malachite, lapis, charoite, etc. are simulated with block materials. Backed Turquoise Cabochons Backed turquoise gems have a non-turquoise backing on the bottom of the stone. The backing is usually made out of some form of epoxy, or plastic resin. The backing is not seen when the stone is set in jewelry, because only the bottom of the stone has the backing material. Copyright by ColorWright - All Rights Reserved. Our Privacy Policy. Toll Free Order Line FOR ORDERS ONLY (877) 548-1439 or Email Us