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Turquoise - December’s gemstone        

For selling, turquoise is similar to jade and pearl for the same reasons.  Everyone appreciates it, and the gem always looks good however it’s used.  Turquoise is the birthstone for December.

What is turquoise?
Turquoise is a soft, opaque gemstone, formed by volcanic rock reacting to copper deposits brought by water.  Colour ranges from blue-green, to yellow-green with grey, black or brown veining.  Most non-green turquoise these days is dyed.  As genuine turquoise is expensive, reconstituted turquoise is common - crafted from real turquoise chips fused with other stones to cut cost. 

History
Turquoise has been found in 5,000-year-old Egyptian tombs and the Tibetans used it as currency centuries ago. North Africa and the Middle East hold large deposits, but most turquoise today originates from Burma and is carved in China. Turquoise didn’t reach Europe until the crusades when the name originated, meaning “Turkish stone”.

Benefits
Ancient doctors thought turquoise prevented injury and ground it into a powder to cure stomach disorders, internal bleeding, and insect bites. Turquoise has always been used to protect the wearer from danger, attract wealth, and warn as a talisman or good luck charm. Some believe it will fade when danger or illness is near, or a lover is unfaithful. It’s also said to protect against pollution and strengthen the body.

Looking after
Turquoise is porous, so contact with liquids, oils or even perspiration should be avoided. This is why it’s often impregnated with plastic, colourless oil or wax to improve colour and durability.  Jewellery should be removed before washing. Untreated turquoise will eventually turn green.

There are many different turquoise in the store, see at: MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

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 Turquoise & Pearl


Turquoise and pearl go so well together - creating natural, expensive-looking, quality jewellery, ideal for presents.  Wrap it in a nice box and try to be present when it’s opened - that's if you can't resist keeping the piece for yourself!  Turquoise also looks great with red coral, creating jewellery with mystique, giving a Tibetan effect.


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To see all our turquoise beads in US dollars click here,  in GB pounds here

Warm up this Winter with Lampwork Beads!

The "lamp" in lampwork came from the oil lamps and blowpipes used in seventeenth century France and Italy. Blowing by mouth or bellows into an oil lamp flame with a small pipe makes just enough heat to soften and form this type of glass. It's amazing the great work the early lampworkers were able to do with so little equipment. Hot glass-working skills originated from the Syrians around 1700 BC, the Egyptians 1450 BC, the Chinese around 550 BC, the Romans at the turn of the first millennium. Today lampworkers usually use an oxygen torch, but the technique to form and decorate the glass hasn’t changed much for thousands of years.             

Choosing Lampwork Beads                      
As usual with handcrafted items, the quality is equal to the expertise of its maker. Choose beaded jewelry in a style you like, but remember that style isn't the only thing you must consider when buying handcrafted glass beads. Air bubbles should not normally be visible in the bead – although some beadmakers use these as design elements, but they are normally round or positioned in specific areas. The bead hole should be free of nicks or burrs. Jagged edges around the hole produce a wobbly bead that can eventually cut through beading wire. Check that the shapes of beads. They're handcrafted, so expect some variations, that’s part of their charm, but the overall look should be attractive.

How are Lampwork Beads actually Make?    
Lampworkers use a torch to melt the tips of glass rods, and then wind the molten glass around a mandrel, a narrow stainless steel rod. Later, when the bead is removed, the space occupied by the mandrel becomes the hole used to string the bead. Glass cools from the outside in and the outer layers shrink as they cool. Bringing a bead out of the flame and leaving it in the open air allows the outside of the bead to cool rapidly around its molten interior. However, a stress point develops between the cool shrinking glass and the hot center, which can cause a bead to crack immediately or at a later time. To prevent cracks, the beads are soaked in a kiln to make sure that all glass within them is the same temperature. After soaking the artist reduces the kiln’s heat over several hours to bring the beads to room temperature.       
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To see our Lampwork Beads click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk