I hav heard of people using hematite before - they said they had to rough it up cause they couldnt hold the sax right, which made it look kind of neat on the matte sax that I saw it on. I want to put turquoise touches on mine - but they would run about 50 a piece just for labor - wouldnt be too much more for the actual stone...but still, just in labor, you are already up to 500 bucks. The remedy? those bach strad finger buttons made of turquoise - I am pretty sure they are the same as the selmer pearls, but am not yet sure - money has been the main constriction on reseach for this. (Of course turquoise would go best with silver.)