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grm
Joined: 08 Jul 2022
Posts: 7
Location: New York
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 Posted: Aug 24, 2022 14:14 Post subject: Strange glue on the back of a turquoise cabochon |
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Hello,
I bought a natural turquoise cabochon online, there is some kind of hard glue on the back, does anyone know what it is? The seller said it is a natural glue of the stone but it seems strange to me, it gives me more the impression of something that was used to block the stone and to be able to smooth and mirror it at the top.
How can I do to remove that?
Thanks in advance.
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Riccardo Modanesi
Joined: 07 Nov 2011
Posts: 630
Location: Milano
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| Posted: Aug 24, 2022 14:30 Post subject: Re: Strange glue on the back of a turquoise cabochon |
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Hi Grm!
Nothing strange! Ancient jewels lose their stones sometime, because glue doesn't work for ever! It might be a formerly glued cabochon in a jewel, now you have to find the jewel! However the glue is NOT natural.
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.
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Hi! I'm a collector of minerals since 1973 and a gemmologist. On Summer I always visit mines and quarries all over Europe looking for minerals! Ok, there is time to tell you much much more! Greetings from Italy by Riccardo. |
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grm
Joined: 08 Jul 2022
Posts: 7
Location: New York
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| Posted: Aug 24, 2022 15:19 Post subject: Re: Strange glue on the back of a turquoise cabochon |
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| Riccardo Modanesi wrote: | Hi Grm!
Nothing strange! Ancient jewels lose their stones sometime, because glue doesn't work for ever! It might be a formerly glued cabochon in a jewel, now you have to find the jewel! However the glue is NOT natural.
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo. |
Once I had the confirmation that it was not a natural glue of the stone I solved the problem by using cotton swabs soaked in nitro thinner to remove the glue. Thank you for the answer.
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John Cesar
Joined: 19 Jul 2009
Posts: 37
Location: Tucson, Arizona
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| Posted: Aug 24, 2022 19:15 Post subject: Re: Strange glue on the back of a turquoise cabochon |
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This is not a glue. Many turquoise stones are backed with material to make the stone look bigger (thicker) than it really is when the bezel is put around the stone and mounted.
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Don Lum
Joined: 03 Sep 2012
Posts: 2900
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Aug 24, 2022 23:21 Post subject: Re: Strange glue on the back of a turquoise cabochon |
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I think that this "stuff" on the back of the cabochon was what the lapidary used to attach the turquoise to the dop stick for cabbing. Could it be a form of green dop wax?
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Don Lum
Joined: 03 Sep 2012
Posts: 2900
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Aug 24, 2022 23:25 Post subject: Re: Strange glue on the back of a turquoise cabochon |
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id est looks like what we used in the cab lab.
There, I'm a poet and don't know it ;-) ;-)
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Riccardo Modanesi
Joined: 07 Nov 2011
Posts: 630
Location: Milano
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| Posted: Aug 25, 2022 04:12 Post subject: Re: Strange glue on the back of a turquoise cabochon |
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| John Cesar wrote: | | This is not a glue. Many turquoise stones are backed with material to make the stone look bigger (thicker) than it really is when the bezel is put around the stone and mounted. |
Hi John!
Fully agree: it's not properly a glue, but it is an artificial material used to enhance the stone and make it appear bigger and more beautiful! This method is used not only for turquoise, but for many other gemstones too! The book of Kurt Nassau "Gemstone Enhancement" treats this subject in a very exhaustive way.
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.
_________________
Hi! I'm a collector of minerals since 1973 and a gemmologist. On Summer I always visit mines and quarries all over Europe looking for minerals! Ok, there is time to tell you much much more! Greetings from Italy by Riccardo. |
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