Peer Review History
Four Years From Proposal to Standard
The peer review history is grounded in testing, comparison, professional criticism, and a 57-stone study group.
The Study Set
The 57-stone study set gives the review history a visible foundation. The point was not to make a prettier page; it was to test whether a proposed grading method could be applied to real turquoise specimens in a repeatable way.
The Review Path
Public Introduction at Turquoise United
Joe Dan Lowry publicly introduced the turquoise grading system and opened it to direct questioning from professionals and knowledgeable participants across the field.
Open Review and Field Response
The proposed methodology remained open through educational settings, museum work, public conversations, written materials, online resources, and industry discussion.
Testing the Method
The grading method, order of operations, terminology, and relationship between physical Master Stones and official results were repeatedly tested and clarified.
Refinement of Master Stones and Procedure
The Master Stone collection, grading attributes, scoring language, report requirements, and administrative process were refined for repeatability and documentation.
From Proposal to Current Edition
The review period led to the 2026 First Edition with defined scope, attributes, procedure, records, governance, limitations, and definitions.