Will this color change from submerging a natural untreated stone be only temporary?
Also, when did stabilization of turquoise fist appear and become common?
I have recently been reading a lot about this subject. I’ve come to appreciate (as stated above) that stabilization is necessary for the majority of turquoise stones that aren’t as high on the MOHS scale and wouldn’t otherwise be able to withstand the cutting and setting process and hold up to wear. The problem I have with it is that it’s just so hard to tell, and turquoise never seems to be clearly labeled as stabilized. I know I make a habit of asking about it when I look at turquoise jewelry in stores, and I’m almost always told the piece I’m looking at is natural untreated turquoise. That just doesn’t seem consistent with what I’ve read, which is that the vast majority of turquoise on the market is treated. So the whole process just feels very shady.