Sacred Stone of the Southwest is on the Brink of Extinction
—Elaine Lavine, Dana Point, Calif. Yes—if live germs are present and you touch your mouth, nose or eyes before the germs die. These much-used pens are no different from elevator buttons or the handles on public doors and grocery carts. My personal suggestion is to carry your own ballpoint pen with you. If faced with a hard rubber pen, politely decline to use it and ask the staff member handling the transaction, who should be gloved, to please mark an “X” for you as your signature.
Send questions to enturies ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.
On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.
We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and snatched it up for our Sedona Turquoise Collection. Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-akind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for