The Silver Mesa's stone bead necklaces are hand strung by Gwynna Liles, Apache.  Using quality beads from around the world, Gwyn selects the perfect color and shape combinations for each piece.  All necklaces are finished with 100% sterling silver findings.

Denim Blue Dumortierite
Shades of denim, from stone-washed to deep indigo, make this variety of quartz a natural for the casual look.

Picture Jasper
Jasper, another type of quartz (chalcedony), is richly colored by minerals, such as iron oxide.  There are many varieties of jasper, and each has a unique look.  Picture jasper offers beads in earthy shades of cream, rust, chocolate brown, black and gray, and some with the characteristic "scenic landscape" patterns that gave this jasper its name.

Turquoise, stabilized
Turquoise occurs naturally in many shades of blue and green.  Blue shades result from the presence of copper, and iron is usually responsible for the green tones.  Inclusions of matrix (the rock in which the turquoise formed) sometimes add distinctive patches and veining patterns.  Turquoise that is too fragile in its natural state to be cut, polished and subjected to the demands of every day wear, can be successfully stabilized with resins to make it harder, darker and less brittle.  When done properly, the results are quite satisfactory.