From Block to Beauty: How Composite Turquoise Becomes the Jewelry You Love
Ever wonder how those bold, colorful cabochons, rounds, and beads come to life? Many of them start as composite turquoise blocks—vibrant, stabilized creations made by bonding small fragments of turquoise with resin or epoxy. It can also be accented with other stones like spiny oyster or white buffalo. Vibrant pigments and metal alloys are added to create a unique and dramatic matrix. These blocks are where the transformation begins.
What Is Composite Turquoise?
Composite turquoise, often called compressed turquoise, is made by taking smaller pieces of turquoise and bonding them together with a resin or binder. Sometimes the matrix includes other elements like spiny oyster shell or white buffalo, adding to the depth and character of the stone. The result is a block that captures the beauty of turquoise while gaining the strength needed for everyday wear.
Compressed stones allow us to maximize the use of natural stones by utilizing smaller stones that would typically be thrown out. The compression process involves infusing the stone with resin under pressure, creating a solid and durable material. These composite blocks can be color-enhanced with vibrant pigments or infused with striking metal alloys, amplifying hues like bold purples, soft pinks, or fiery oranges.
Once the block is stabilized and fully cured, lapidarists (stone cutters) begin slicing it into slabs. From there, they cut out specific shapes to match the final design—like oval cabochons, teardrops, or chunky barrel beads. Each cut reveals new pockets of color, swirl, and metallic matrix that make composite stones so visually stunning.
After shaping, the stones are sanded and polished to bring out their full vibrancy. A smooth, polished finish highlights the intricate matrix and makes each piece feel rich and refined. For beads, holes are carefully drilled for stringing. For cabochons, they're prepped for bezel-setting in silver.
From Raw to Radiant
In the final stage, these cabochons and beads are ready to become heirloom-worthy jewelry. Whether it’s a bold Naja pendant, a pair of vibrant earrings, or a dainty heart-shaped ring, each piece carries the legacy of traditional turquoise with a modern, colorful twist.
Composite stones are not only beautiful, but resilient, versatile, and endlessly expressive. And now, when you wear a piece from Calli Co. Silver, you’ll know the journey it took to get from raw block to radiant beauty.
Images courtesy of Kingman Turquoise. Used with permission.
