Rare Dale
Rare Dale
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 RARE 1998 Dale Earnhardt 3 Japan Platinum Coke Elite 124 RCCA Nascar Diecast  US $799.99
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 Dale Earnhardt Jr 2001 MLB Elite 0008 Autographed Super Rare One of a Kind US $650.00
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 Dale Earnhardt Jr 2001 Bud Elite 0008 Autographed Super Rare One of a Kind US $500.00
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 1997 Dale Earnhardt 112 version Crashed Daytona Car RARE US $379.95
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 Kevin Harvick collecton w dale sr dale jrsome rare US $300.00
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 12 Car diecast lot Kevin Harvick signed Dale Sr Daytona win Dale Jr more RARE US $299.00
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 RARE Nascar Dale Earnhardt Jr 124 Die Cast Collection→→Worldwide Shipping US $298.95
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 DALE EARNHARDT JR 2007 ELITE BUDWEISER 8 ELVIS WHITE GOLD 021 100 MINT RARE US $288.88
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 Dale Earnhardt Jr Autographed 1 24 Elvis 30th 2007 COT Chrome QVC Car RARE US $275.00
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 RARE 2007 Dale Earnhardt Jr 8 Platinum Budweiser DEI VHTF 124 Nascar Diecast US $254.99
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 DALE EARNHARDT 3 Daytona 10th Anniversary COT ADVANCED RUN 2 of 333 RARE US $250.00
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 2001 Dale Earnhardt Action 124 Goodwrench 3 Oreo Bud Shootout Car Rare US $249.00
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 NASCAR DALE EARNHARDT 8 124 SCALEVINTAGE AND RARE DIECAST CAR US $237.50
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 NASCAR DALE EARNHARDT 15 124 SCALEWRANGLERVINTAGE AND RARE DIECAST CAR US $237.50
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 Dale Earnhardt Jr Autographed 2010 Legend Of Hallowdega 1 24 Car RARE US $225.00
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 RARE Dale Earnhardt Jr 8 Budweiser 2003 MC Platinum Plated 1 of 624 US $210.00
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 RARE 3 DALE EARNHARDT RCCA GM GOODWRENCH PETER MAX US $209.99
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 Dale Earnhardt JR Junior 81 KFC 2004 Platinum Action Race Car 1 of 300 RARE US $199.99
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 SUPER RARE 1997 ROOKIE 7 DALE JR MANHEIM AUCTIONS WHITAKER RACING US $199.95
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 NEW DALE EARNHART SR WRANGLER METAL HAULER RARE US $199.95
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 DALE EARNHARDT 3 SILVER SELECT GM GOODWRENCH CAR RARE US $199.95
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 RARE Dale Earnhardt 1 24 Action Elite Goodwrench Raced Version Daytona Winner US $193.03
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 Rare Rcca Dale Earnhardt 1994 Lumina 3 In Memory of Neil on door post US $189.99
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 Dale Earnhardt Sr 1956 Pink FORD VICTORIA Limited Edition K2 124 Scale NEW RARE US $189.95
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 DALE EARNHARDT JR 2007 8 WHITE GOLD BUDWEISER ELITE VERY RARE ONLY 100 MADE US $179.99
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 Nascar 124 Dale Earnhardt 71 Dave Marcis 1994 VERY RARE signed by dave marcis US $179.99
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A Note on Stabilizing Turquoise
Turquoise is a mix of copper and aluminum compounds. These compounds are usually in the form of hydrous phosphates of these two elements, along with other secondary compounds. Though the quantities of the secondary compounds are usually quite small, they can have a significant impact on the overall properties of the turquoise specimen. Look at your silver turquoise pendants, and in most cases, you will see that the stone has a deep sky blue color. This color is due to the presence of copper. If the specimen contains trace amounts of iron, the color would gain a greenish tinge. On the rare occasion when zinc enters the matrix, the color tends to be yellow. In the vast majority of cases, natural turquoise is quite soft, light, and porous. This makes it very difficult to cut and polish the stone. Even after the jewelry has been made, the turquoise tends to absorb moisture and oils from the skin and gradually weakens and deteriorates with time. Less than five percent (less than three percent, by some estimates) of the world’s turquoise is of good enough quality to be directly used in jewelry. Natural turquoise is rare and therefore very costly. This makes it impossible to use natural turquoise in fashion jewelry designs. To overcome this problem some bright gemologists came up with a few different innovative methods to improve the quality of moderate and even low quality turquoise specimens so that this beautiful and popular gemstone could be used in fashion jewelry in a cost effective manner.
- The most basic form of stabilization is to coat the surface of the stone with wax or vegetable oil. This process has some very minor effects on sealing the pores on the surface of the stone, and gives the stone a shine. However, the treatment is very temporary in nature and as such is not effective in improving the overall quality of the stone.
- The most commonly used technique of stabilization is to treat the stone with a clear epoxy resin. The resin is used in liquid form. The stone is kept immersed in the epoxy resin liquid where capillary action sucks the liquid into the pores, or the liquid is infused into the stone by simultaneous application of pressure and vacuum. The resin penetrates the stone and is allowed to harden. This process reduces the pore space within the stone making it less susceptible to absorption of liquids. The stabilized stone is also easier to handle and can be polished to have a shinning finish. An experienced gemologist can under magnification, identify whether or not the stone has been stabilized using this method.
- State-of-the-art in turquoise stabilization is to use vaporized silica. Silica in vapor form is infused into the stone. Similar to epoxy stabilization, this process reduces the porosity of the stone and makes it suitable for jewelry applications. The process is however much more complex that epoxy resin stabilization, and must be carried out under controlled conditions in a laboratory with proper health and safety safeguards in place. When performed effectively, silica stabilization is so good that not even an experienced person can examine the stone and say with confidence whether or not the stone was stabilized.
Turquoise that has been stabilized using resin or silica is suitable for fashion jewelry applications such as turquoise pendants, accessory beads in a cultured pearl necklace, or even sterling silver jewelry where turquoise is the only gemstone. Gemologists and jewelers consider stabilized turquoise to be genuine turquoise, although the ethical sellers will clearly inform you in the turquoise you are buying is natural or stabilized. It is important to note that without the process of stabilization most of the southwestern jewelry on the market today would not have been possible.
About the Author
Dale is a geo-professional in the Southwestern United States, and an avid and amateur gemmologist and a fashion jewelry buff.
