How can you tell a Kingman turquoise?

Kingman Turquoise comes from the Kingman mine in Arizona. Kingman Turquoise ranges in color from sky blue to hues of green, the green turquoise actually comes from the Turquoise Mountain side of the mine, and is desired for it's distinct coloring. This turquoise ring shows the appeal of the Kingman turquoise hue.

How can I tell what kind of turquoise I have?

Is Kingman turquoise rare?

Today, even the quality natural turquoise from Kingman has become rare in the wake of rising demand for good quality American turquoise.

How do you identify rough turquoise?

If you have a rough natural piece, use your finger nail to rub along the surface of the stone. If your nail gets caught on where the Turquoise meets the webbing, then this is a good indication of natural Turquoise. The next observation you can make is about the hardness of the mineral.

How do you tell if turquoise is real?

The most effective way to identify real Turquoise is to do the scratch test. Howlite or other materials fake Turquoise is made from are softer stones than genuine Turquoise. Lightly use your nail to scratch a less visible part of the stone like the backside and if it scratches easily, it's howlite.

Kingman Turquoise - Different looks of Turquoise

What is the most valuable color of turquoise?

The most-prized turquoise color is an even, intense, medium blue, sometimes referred to as robin's egg blue or sky blue in the trade. The traditional source for this color is the Nishapur district of Iran, so you'll also hear it described as “Persian blue,” whether or not it was actually mined in Iran.

What is the most rare turquoise?

Lander Blue Spiderweb Turquoise is some of the rarest Turquoise on earth and in high demand, Buyers must beware of impersonators, the highest grade of Chinese Spiderweb Turquoise is often sold as Lander Blue Turquoise, it takes an experienced professional to detect true Lander Blue Turquoise.

What happens when turquoise gets wet?

Turquoise is a compound that includes metals such as aluminum, copper or iron. Water and oil can cause some of these metals to oxidize, or in other words rust. As a result of oxidation, the stones can actually change color.

What is a Sleeping Beauty turquoise?

Sleeping Beauty turquoise is noted for its solid, light blue color with no matrix. The host rock is granite. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is the favorite of Zuni Pueblo lapidaries and silversmiths for the purity in color. This mine was one of the largest in North America.

How can you tell if turquoise is stabilized or natural?

After treatment, stabilized turquoise is harder and is unlikely to break or crack. The stone is no longer porous, so it doesn't absorb liquids or oils and the color is "locked" - unlike natural turquoise where the color can change, or deepen, over time. The cheapest forms of "turquoise" are block and imitation.

Does Kingman turquoise have pyrite in it?

Morenci and Kingman are two of the best known mines for having pyrite. However, there is pyrite in Mexican (and other) turquoise as well.

What is Kingman ceremonial turquoise?

The Kingman Turquoise Mine is one of the oldest and highest producing Turquoise Mines in America. It was originally discovered by prehistoric Indians well over 1000 years ago. Kingman Turquoise is known for its beautiful sky blue color and produces many variations of blue Turquoise.

Who owns Kingman turquoise?

Commercial mining of the Mineral Park Mine began in the 1880s; the Colbaugh family has owned and operated Kingman facilities since the start of Arizona's turquoise mining boom. Colbaugh founder's grandson, Marty, currently runs the Mineral Park Mine, bringing a personal touch to all of his business.

What is my turquoise worth?

On average—and without taking its actual quality into account—turquoise is worth $3-5 per carat, $15-25 per gram, $450-750 per ounce, and $6795-11350 per pound. These numbers do fluctuate depending upon the quality of the turquoise.

What kind of turquoise has gold in it?

Cripple Creek Turquoise: Originally found as a by-product of gold mining in Cripple Creek, CO, this turquoise is generally blue to light green - and rarely, and spectacularly, has a matrix of gold.

What does Bisbee turquoise look like?

Bisbee turquoise can be found in many different shades of color and quality, from soft, low quality pale blue, to the quality hard brilliant blue turquoise and almost every shade of blue in between. The highest grade of Bisbee Blue turquoise is almost lapis lazuli blue and has a brownish-red spiderweb matrix.

What is Arizona turquoise?

Arizona Turquoise mines are world famous for their beautiful true blue Turquoise. Turquoise is Arizona's most important gem material. This gem ranks top in value per production and is the most widely known of Arizona's gemstones.

What is Egyptian turquoise?

Egyptian Turquoise was first found in Egypt well over 7,500 years ago. It was highly coveted by the Egyptians to be a secred stone with metaphysical powers. Egyptian Turquoise was used by Egyptian healers, worn Kings, Pharaohs, Rulers and important people from that early period in world history.

What is Yungai turquoise?

Blue Moon turquoise is known for its range of colors - from yellow to green, to blue. In addition, blue Moon turquoise is also known for producing similar accents of blue and spiderweb as the Yungai mine.

Can you clean turquoise with baking soda?

Making a baking soda bath

Place a sheet of aluminum foil in a bowl. Then mix one tablespoon of baking soda into a quart of hot water. After this, place your Turquoise jewelry for half an hour in the bowl. Now take out your sterling silver rings with stones and buff them gently, with a dry cloth.

Will alcohol damage turquoise?

Extensive use can even loosen prongs causing the potential loss of precious gems. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can pit the surface of softer gems such as pearls, opals, turquoise, and amber. Any type of sanitizer can even cause crystalline gemstones to lose their brilliance.

How do I clean turquoise?

It's safe to clean turquoise jewelry with warm, soapy water, but it should never be cleaned with steam or ultrasonic cleaners. Some turquoise is treated to improve its surface appearance. Heat or solvents can damage the treated surfaces.

Is Arizona turquoise rare?

By the early 1960's, the demand for Bisbee turquoise was high. Bisbee turquoise comes in many shades of blue with webbing, but the highest quality Bisbee turquoise is dark blue with chocolate brown or red webbing. Today, genuine Bisbee turquoise is rare and highly collectible.

Is blue or green turquoise more valuable?

Turquoise in its purest form is a hydrous phosphate compound of aluminum and copper, which creates the medium blue color we all know. Persian and Egyptian collectors prefer this medium blue color. Many say that this color is the most valuable because it is the purest, only having traces of copper or aluminum.

Is Bisbee turquoise rare?

There is very little Bisbee Turquoise available today and due to it's rarity and exceptional beauty it is very valuable.