Buying a Turquoise Beaded Necklace
A turquoise beaded necklace is one of the most traditional and oldest forms of Native American turquoise jewelry. Praised for its beauty, history, and cultural significance among the Native American peoples, this type of necklace is prized piece of jewelry and a beautiful addition to any jewelry collection.
What Is Turquoise?
Turquoise is an opaque precious stone that is famous for the beautiful, distinctive blue-green color that shares its name. According to archeologists, Native Americans in the Southwest have been mining turquoise for thousands of years. When crafted into jewelry such as a turquoise beaded necklace, raw turquoise stones are shaped, molded, and polished into distinctive, brightly-colored beads.
In the Navajo tradition, turquoise has important cultural significance. The bright turquoise color is said to bring good luck, good health, and plentiful happiness. A turquoise beaded necklace can bestow these harmonious properties onto the wearer.
As a mineral, turquoise has a significant variation in its coloration from stone to stone. If you look closely at a turquoise necklace, you will see that the beads contain veins of colors that could include white, green, black, blue, and yellow. Similarly, the beads in your turquoise beaded necklace could contain spots of these additional colors, especially if the turquoise comes from the Southwestern United States.
How to Shop and Care for Your Turquoise Beaded Necklace
When buying a turquoise beaded necklace, there are steps you can take to ensure that you are buying a quality piece.
First, be wary of accidentally purchasing an imitation turquoise beaded necklace. The beads on
your necklace should be authentic turquoise, but sometimes sellers will artificially paint cheaper stones or even plastic with blue-green colors and try to pass them off as a true turquoise beaded necklace.
Second, pay attention to the craftsmanship of your turquoise beaded necklace. Are the beads smooth and uniform in size (but not so uniform that they appear to be artificial)? Have they been polished? Be sure also to check the construction of your turquoise beaded necklace.
Your turquoise beaded necklace should have a high-quality clasp that will not easily break, and the beads should be strung together with a strong and secure material. Otherwise, your turquoise beaded necklace might break easily one day, spilling your valuable beads all over the floor. This could require a costly repair.
After you’ve purchased your turquoise beaded necklace, take good care of it. Store your necklace in a cloth-lined, padded box. Store the box in a cool, dry, safe place. Exposure to sunlight could bring about discoloration, and exposure to moisture could degrade the clasp or chain in your turquoise beaded necklace.