Editing Turquoise (section)

=== Backing ===
Since finer turquoise is often found as thin seams, it may be [[adhesive|glued]] to a base of stronger foreign material for reinforcement. These stones are termed "backed", and it is standard practice that all thinly cut turquoise in the Southwestern United States is backed. [[Native Americans in the United States|Native indigenous peoples]] of this region, because of their considerable use and wearing of turquoise, have found that backing increases the durability of thinly cut slabs and cabochons of turquoise. They observe that if the stone is not backed it will often crack. Backing of turquoise is not widely known outside of the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] and Southwestern United States jewellery trade. Backing does not diminish the value of high quality turquoise, and indeed the process is expected for most thinly cut American commercial gemstones.{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}