Natural Turquoise - Used primarily by artisans engaged in the making of handcrafted jewelry items. Also known as "gem-quality" turquoise, it is highly prized by collectors and high-end buyers. This type of turquoise is the most expensive, and when the artisan's skill and labor are factored in, the cost per piece can be quite high.
Stabilized Turquoise - Stabilizing is the most advanced and sophisticated method of treating turquoise. It is accomplished by injecting clear, colorless acrylics into turquoise to toughen and harden the stone and enhance its color. Much of the turquoise used today, particularly outside of the handcrafted jewelry market, is stabilized. In a non-handcrafted jewelry production environment, the combination of stabilized turquoise, which is less expensive than gem-quality turquoise, and a manufacturing-type environment results in jewelry pieces that are generally very high in quality and lower in cost.
Artisans who create handcrafted jewelry sometimes use stabilized turquoise as well since it is lower in cost and more readily available than gem-quality turquoise.
Reconstituted Turquoise - Also known as "turcon." Turquoise fragments are ground into a powder. The powder is mixed with epoxy and formed into cakes or stones, which are used just like natural stones. Turcon is known for its durability. It is often used in the production of chip-inlay jewelry. Turcon is also cut into cylindrical sections, drilled through the center, and threaded onto necklace and bracelet strands.