When I first started, I was confused by all the gemstone that was marked as turquoise, but where the price said otherwise. I spent a considerable time educating myself, and finding suppliers I could trust. There are a lot of man made turquoise out there, and that is quite alright – as long as you know that up front. I have made and use myself a few turquoise pendants I know are dyed chalk or howlite. As long as you know what it is, it is quite alright. It is another thing to not tell. It saddens me now to see so many sellers not marking the products they sell correctly. I think especially in the handmade community we should be very accurate in detailing what our products are made of, and where they come from. I try to do that at least, as far as I am able to.

I was reminded of this today, when I was about to create some new earrings with turquoise and sterling silver. Whenever I do markets I end up talking a lot about this gemstone, as it is so varied in it’s colour scheme depending on which mine it comes from. I currently have earrings in stock with turquoise from North America, Mexico and China and they are all very different. I love them all.