Turquoise is a beautiful green-blue stone that has captivated mankind from as far back as 5000 BC. Primitive cultures used it as a religious stone, believing it held godly powers of good fortune. Today it is the hottest semiprecious gemstone in fashion. But before you spend your money, be sure that you know how to care for your turquoise. Dropping

Turquoise is a very soft stone, especially if it hasn't been stabilized. Avoid dropping it at all costs! Even on carpet, one slip could chip or even shatter it. A lot of turquoise is stabilized and that reduces the risk of breaking, but do not let turquoise reach clumsy hands.

Storing

Along the same lines, do not store turquoise beads with harder materials; any sort of nudge or vibration will cause the beads to scrape against the other contents. If you store your turquoise necklace with a bunch of other jewelry, don't be surprised to put it on and find all sorts of little scratches marring the smooth polish. A good way to store turquoise is to hang it.

Chemicals

Here is a tip that most women do not discover until it is too late: keep your turquoise away from perfume! Any sort of chemical, such as perfume, will damage it. In what way depends on the chemical and the particular stone; usually white flecks will appear. When you prepare for your evening out, dab your perfume higher up your neck to keep it away from your jewelry. If you use body spray or something similar, spray the perfume on your shoulders before putting your necklace on. Stabilized turquoise has a tiny bit more resistance to chemicals than natural, but it won't hold out long. Make sure to keep your perfume and your turquoise separate.

Heat

This one should be easy. Try to keep your turquoise away from temperatures above 90 F. You should not have too much trouble with this unless your turquoise is stored near a heater. Being exposed to high temperatures once in a blue moon will not affect the stone too much, but constant exposure is a killer. Sellers at flea markets and shows are especially vulnerable to this. I once met a turquoise vendor that lost hundreds of dollars because the heat turned his turquoise a faint shade of purple. If you sell out doors, keep your turquoise shaded from the sun. Do not throw your turquoise out in a storage shed unless it is air conditioned or you live a cool climate.

Cleaning

Turquoise is not a stone that requires constant cleaning and polishing. If you notice your jewelry does not look as glossy as it used to, it is probably from oils that the beads absorbed from your skin. Gently buff the turquoise with a soft cloth and it should shine like new. In the case that you absolutely must wash your turquoise for whatever reason, swish it in warm soapy water for about five seconds, then dry it quickly with a soft cloth. Under no circumstances should your turquoise be in contact with jewelry cleansers. Turquoise set in sterling silver is a whole other issue, however. Dip a cue tip in the cleanser and carefully wash the silver without touching the turquoise. When it is back to its original beauty, go ahead and rinse the entire necklace in warm water. Dry quickly.