Protection

[Sut Tatersaul]

I know that this question has been asked before, but I can't seem to be able to find it. my computing skills, have gone down the drain, along with my memory, so bear with me. As a birthday present, to myself, I bought a nice Trapper style knife, that has turquoise, and fire opals, in the handle, construction. I asked the seller if the turquoise was stabilized, and he said yes. My question is, would the use of Renaissance Wax to protect the turquoise, and enhance it's luster, harm the turquoise, if it is stabilized, or not? Thanks.

Sut Tatersaul

[Quick Steel]

Sut, If no one shows up today with a knowledgeable answer, I suggest you call a jeweler with the question. Or....

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Products – Santa Fe Stoneworks
https://santafestoneworks.com/collections/all Perhaps someone here would be willing to assist you. Good luck.

[jerryd6818]

Not from a standpoint of prior knowledge but I just can't imagine that Renaissance Wax would damage ANY kind of knife handle (or anything else for that matter). It was formulated to protect museum pieces. I say, wax away.

[Gunsil]

As a jeweler and lapidary I can tell you that wax will not harm stabilized turquoise. As I stated when you first asked about acquiring a turquoise handled knife stabilized turquoise has been soaked in either an epoxy or polymer resin. These resins will not be adversely affected by wax but I would be surprised if it enhanced the luster of the turquoise since the whole reason for stabilizing turquoise is to make use of lower grade turquoise that isn't hard enough to take a natural polish. Stabilizing reduces porosity in the stone to zero and the wax should not soak into it if the stabilizing was a quality job.