Lika Behar Turquoise Earrings- One of a Kind

Gold Throughout history, gold has been one of the most sought-after metals in the world. It’s been used as currency, to decorate objects as a thing of beauty, and is also used for industrial purposes. In the jewelry industry, the word “gold,” when used by itself, means “all gold” or “pure” gold, meaning 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, it’s usually mixed with other metals called alloys to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold. The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen-karat (14K) jewelry contains 14/24 or 58.3% gold, with 10/24 parts of an alloy metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry. Turquoise Admired since ancient times, turquoise is known for its distinct color, which ranges from powdery blue to greenish robin egg blue. It’s one of few minerals to lend its name to anything that resembles its striking color. The word “turquoise” dates back to the 13th century, drawing from the French expression pierre tourques, which referenced the “Turkish stone” brought to Europe from Turkey. Ancient Persia (now Iran) was the traditional source for sky blue turquoise gemstones. This color is often called “Persian blue” today, regardless of its origin. Turquoise is found in arid regions where rainwater dissolves copper in the soil, forming colorful nodular deposits when it combines with aluminum and phosphorus. Copper contributes blue hues, while iron and chrome add a hint of green. Some turquoise contains pieces of host rock, called matrix, which appear as dark webs or patches in the material. This can lower the stone’s value, although the uniform “spiderweb” pattern of Southwestern turquoise is attractive. Turquoise is sensitive to direct sunlight and solvents like makeup, perfume, and natural oils. Highly esteemed for its striking namesake color and its ancient history, turquoise’s popularity remains timeless.

How to Care for Gold •Gold is a soft metal prone to scratching, and is usually mixed with other alloy metals to increase it’s hardness.

•Gold has a tendency to tarnish, depending on the percentage of other metals mixed with the gold. Some cleaning materials to avoid are:
--Soap – Steer clear of any soap with unknown ingredients. Basic blue Dawn dish soap is fine, but remove your gold jewelry before showering to avoid accumulating a film from other body washes.
--Chlorine – Chlorine, especially at high temperatures like in a hot tub, can permanently damage or discolor your gold jewelry. Remember to remove it when cleaning with chlorine bleach, too!

•The best way to clean gold jewelry is to take it to a professional jeweler for cleaning. How to Care for Turquoise •Turquoise is generally stable to light, but high heat can cause discoloration and surface damage. It dissolves slowly in hydrochloric acid, and it can be discolored by chemicals, cosmetics, and even skin oils or perspiration.

•Turquoise should never be cleaned with steam or ultrasonic cleaners. Some turquoise is treated to improve its surface appearance. Heat or solvents can damage the treated surfaces.

•It’s safe to clean turquoise jewelry with warm, soapy water.

Source: GIA

Shipping Policy •All orders ship Free of charge with UPS or Fedex

•Call us at 541-345-0354 if you require next day shipping (additional fees apply)

•Please allow 1-2 days to process your order and prepare shipment

•We only ship to addresses within the United States. We are unable to process orders shipped to package forwarding services at this time.

At Skeie's, it's of upmost importance that the jewelry we select is obtained from suppliers who follow conflict-free and socially responsible practices. We believe that the materials used in our jewelry should support and benefit the communities where they originated, while keeping the environmental impact as minimal as possible.