Turquoise Cornelian and Silver bracelet. The 4mm round Turquoise in the above bracelet comes from the Hubei Province of Central China. It is said that Turquoise from the dozen or so Chinese mines is on the same level as the Turquoise from the North American mines of Nevada and Arizona, in that the range of colour and types of matrix (the dark webbing of the mother rock characteristic of much Turquoise) is similar in the product of both regions.
Cornelian, the highly polished orange-brown tubular cut gemstone in the above bracelet, is a variety of Chalcedony, the finest form of Agate; Black Onyx and the North American favourite of Lavender Chalcedony, two other fine forms of Chalcedony.
The above bracelet, created and stranded in Sydney, is strung on tiger-tail, plastic coated wire; this type of stranding is strong and holds its shape, but some care should be taken to avoid kinking for it can be difficult to eliminate a serious kink.