Featured Is this a mark or just a couple of dents on this possibly NA bracelet?

heehee
Thanks, Bronwen, my bracelet is working on trying not to be overly sensitive

There are some frighteningly good turquoise imitators out there ... even nuggets are being faked. Dyed howlite used to be easy to identify, but I've seen photos of some recently that look just like real turquoise. I think the small bits of quartz in the matrix of the stones in the bracelet may be a clue. I didn't research whether quartz can form within the cracks of howlite ... I know that it can be present in the matrix of some turquoise (Sleeping Beauty, for one). My nuggets also have small specks of what looks like pyrite in the matrix ... also present in some turquoise.

The second thing I did when I got the bracelet home, after looking it over with a loupe, was to take an acetone soaked Q-tip to the very black matrix. The Q-tip blackened a little, not a whole lot, which lead me to conclude that the matrix was darkened ... but no blue dye was evident when the stones were swabbed.

I always think of hammering looking more like a series of joined (or nearly joined) 'dents' ... where these marks look like something pushed into, and sometimes sliding along, the surface ... such as a small, blunt stamping tool would make. Probably easier for me to see through a loupe than is visible in the photo. Stippling may not be the correct term at all, though ... simply the first word that came to my mind.

 

Pyrite occurs in Blue Gem turquoise, maybe others too.

 

Pat, I apologize for making that assumption. I was reading too much into your post ... I am sorry

 

I apologize for that statement, Any Jewelry ... it was my own interpretation of your post#29 (I quoted the wrong post in my reply) and I shouldn't have made that assumption. I regret doing so on a public forum. My feelings are fine and you have nothing to be sorry for.

 

Thank you quirky, I appreciate it.

 

I agree with your description of what is usually meant by 'hammered.' Stippled is at least descriptive, even if maybe not the term a maker would use.

Have to try to find again a site I once turned up that showed samples of various turquoises identified by mine. Will share if/when I find. I just hope you enjoy it for its beauty & workmanship.

 

Here is one:
https://tskies.com/turquoise-mines/
But since many mines produce(d) similar types, it is near impossible to identify most turquoises. And turquoise like Persian has been imported since before turquoise mining began in the SW. And we have seen in other threads that many Chinese quality turquoises look a lot like SW turq.

 

Here's one
http://www.horsekeeping.com/jewelry/stones.htm

 

I have no idea whether the stones in this bracelet are what seller represents, but sure do look like yours.

 

No need.
I didn't take it personally. I'm just sorry you read my post as an agreement.

But hey, late in the day after work when I get home, I'm tired. I often misread and on occasion have been known to fire off a bombshell of an answer. Usually regretting it the next day.

Forget about it. Not worth worrying about, I took no offense.

Wear the bracelet and soak up the compliments on it.
BTW, I've don't think I've ever seen nickel tarnish like silver. Alpaca does, but that is a different alloy.

 

This is not the turquoise guide I was thinking of, but it's a start. Sort of a crib sheet. Turquoise is distributed all over the world; these are just ones you are likely to see in NA jewellery.

 

Nickel/German "silver" and Alpaca the same material..copper,nickel,zinc alloy sometimes with a bit of tin.Jewelry grade is usually 18 percent nickel and casting material usually has 4 percent lead.

 

I thought I read somewhere that Alpaca originating in Mexico had some silver in it to make it look more like silver. Alpaca from Mexico does tarnish and polish like silver. Nickel silver on the other hand is cold looking and not warm like Alpaca.

 

I have no idea either ... but boy ... those sure are knobbly nuggets in that bracelet from your link, aren't they?

I'm not really attracted to the turquoise nugget with fancy silver-work Navajo stuff ... these are more my taste in Navajo jewelry (all bought about 25 years ago)

 

The more I looked at turquoise from different sources v. dyed howlite, the more I think the nuggets in the bracelet under discussion are howlite. You other pieces are lovely, much more my taste in turquoise.

 

very nice....

 

Beautiful!

 

it was just my opinion without seeing it up close , if it is silver it should be clearly marked so there is no doubt IMO

 

Why would it be marked?Many NA silversmiths never marked their products and then there are the thousands of NA/southwest type made by hobbyist and never marked for metal content or maker's marks.

 

The idea of signing or marking an art piece has been around for a long time, however, it wasn’t until the late 1970’s that it was common practice among Native American jewelry artists. The majority of artists use a series of letters, often their initials, as a hallmark commonly used as Navajo marks. The problem is that it became very popular and many artists have the same initials. Some have created their own unique symbols as commonly seen among members of the Hopi Tribe. The Zuni Tribe often mark their jewelry with a embroiling or soldering pen. Today well-known invest in a custom signature stamp that engraves the entire name to be less confusing.