FAQ

Is the price for all stones in the picture?

Mostly they are shown as the individual one you will get and priced as each, sometimes they will be shown as a pair and priced as total for the pair. In uncommon cases with small stones we may show several but still price as each or as a set.

What are the possible treatments?

Natural is nothing added, just as it came out of the ground.

Stabilized is usually with turquoise or softer material. It has been hardened with a resin to improve durability. This is a common and widely accepted practice in the industry and does not diminish its value. Often requested because it makes tougher jewelry for everyday wear.

Backed - Some turquoise is backed (using a hard plastic like epoxy or resin) to strengthen soft or brittle stone so it can be cut and polished without breaking or for a nice piece that is too thin. Backing is a common and widely accepted practice in the gemstone and lapidary industry. In most cases, the backing will be completely hidden once the cabochon is mounted in a bezel setting.

Heat Treatment is a common, permanent process where gemstones are placed in ovens or kilns and heated to high temperatures (often 400°C to 1800°C). This mimics natural underground geological heat to improve a stone's color, melt away internal flaws, or increase clarity. Seen mostly with ruby, sapphire and other precious and semi-precious gemstones.

Smoked - Smoked opal is a natural, highly porous Ethiopian (Welo) opal that has undergone a heat and smoke treatment to artificially darken its body color. By wrapping the stone in paper and heating it, microscopic carbon soot particles from the smoke enter the pores, creating a dark background that makes the stone's bright color flashes pop.

How are sizes determined?

“Length” is always the longest size regardless of orientation. “Width” is the perpendicular dimension and “Depth” is the thickness. Stones are measured in millimeters which is the norm in the industry. To help visualize the size we include a common coin in the picture. Dimensions shown are rounded to the closest whole number.

Why is the weight in carats?

Carats are the standard in the worldwide marketplace for small stone and gemstones. 5 carats = a gram. And there are 28.35 grams per ounce. We do round to the closest whole number.

What is a cabochon?

A cabochon is a gemstone which has been shaped and polished to have a smooth domed top with a flat bottom -- as opposed to a faceted stone. There are higher domed and almost flat domed depending on the individual stone. If more picture angles are needed of a particular stone please email us at NMStoneArt@gmail.com and we will provide them. Please provide the item number of the one you need.