Stabilized versus Reconstituted Turquoise (1 of 2)

Turquoise used in turquoise jewelry is softer than other stones used in jewelry. Using Mohs scale of mineral and gem hardness, Turquoise is a 5-6 (out of 10). Mohs scale is based on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the hardest stone which is diamond. The softest of stones will be similar to graphite, which is used in everyday common pencils; obviously very soft. Stones in the range of 1-4 are rarely used for any types of jewelry without being stabilized. Because turquoise is softer than most stones, you must be careful not to store turquoise jewelry in a way that would allow it to be scratched or jarred against other items. For example, storing a turquoise ring in a large drawer with many other rings could cause the turquoise stone to scratch, or even worse, fracture.