re: #133 Walter L. Newton

The two pieces of turquoise on either end are Kingman, I’m not sure were the baby blue one with the quartz matrix is from, the one second from the right turns out to be a Morceni Mine piece I found yesterday in my supplies. That black band in the middle is peppered with pyrite, which doesn’t show up well in the picture…

My favorite color turquoise would be the darker blue as in that Morceni piece. From what I am told, the folks in the East and far east are more impressed with “pure” turquoise, without all the matrix, where as matrix turquoise is more popular with westerners.

One thing I can say about the matrix stuff, you can be sure it’s not stabilized chalky stuff so predominate coming out of China.

Oh, I’m a big one for the zoning in stones. I’ll just bet the baby blue piece you’re referring to is from the Sleeping Beauty mine, I have some and cheep it is not! I paid $80.00 (don’t tell RWC!) for a strand of 6mm x 3mm tube Sleeping Beauty Beads and that was wholesale! With my employee discount too! I used to work for A & P Trading in DT L.A. and I have more gemstone beads and strands of fresh water pearls than I care to admit to. Love em’! I do link to link wire wrap jewelry when the mood strikes me.