Mesa Verde Musings

  The word Turquoise dates back to the 16th century, from an old French word for Turkish, because it was thought to have been brought to Europe through Turkey. Turquoise in its natural form is a very porous stone, which means it will fracture quite easily. Therefore, most of the turquoise used in jewelry is stabilized with a clear epoxy coating. This aids in strengthening the stone, as well as preventing the color from fading over time. (Color usually will fade when the oils from one's skin come into contact with the natural stone). The majority of turquoise on the...

  Hi everyone, I am Rachel, the owner of Mesa Verde Southwest's daughter. Ok, technically I am not hijacking her blog, as I am the one who writes all of the posts. But I do want to take a minute to wander off topic and talk about my mom. My mom Leslie is a pretty cool lady. Here she is, back in 2009, wearing a coral bracelet and holding my son:  Why is she cool? She is her kids' biggest fan. My mom is a devoted friend, mother, daughter, sister... I'll give you an example. When I started my business...

  Rhodium is the rarest of all non-radioactive metals.  As a member of the platinum group, it is the most expensive.  In addition, it is virtually impervious to tarnish and corrosion. In our business, we have seen it used more and more as plating over sterling silver or even gold. Pros: Since it is hypoallergenic, it allows those who are allergic to nickel or other metals to wear pieces they would otherwise not be able to wear. In addition, it resists scratching and tarnish, making it easier to care for. Rhodium plating does create a look that is different than plain sterling...

  We have customers from around the world who shop with us in our store, and online. We would love to receive submissions - through the comments section and email - of places where you like to wear your turquoise and Native American jewelry! Include pics and a short description, and we would love to feature you on our blog! You can send your emails to Rachel, our content manager, at rachel@mentionitonline.com. Personally, I love to wear my rarest pieces on special occasions. My daughter and I are going to a wedding on Friday, and I'm sure we both will...

  Do you have treasured silver that you worry can't be salvaged, or new pieces that you want to prevent tarnish from forming in the first place? Whether your jewelry has turned black or just needs some basic polishing, we have tried-and-true tips to bringing out the shine in your sterling. 1) Make sure it is, indeed, .925 sterling silver. If it is not sterling, has been chemically treated in any way, or is even partially plated with anything, the proper way to care for the item will differ. 2) Store your items in air-tight bags, such as Ziploc sandwich bags....