How do I know if my turquoise is real?

Turquoise is naturally a soft stone, but howlite (the turquoise imitation), is even softer. This means that if you scratch your stone and it scratches easily, you most likely have a piece of howlite. But if it's very difficult to scratch your stone, you've got genuine turquoise!

How do you tell real turquoise from fake?

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.

Is real turquoise expensive?

Turquoise prices normally range from $1 to $10 per carat but can reach $1000 per carat for the best quality stones. Real turquoise of the top quality costs even more than gold, so it is definitely worth the money. Moreover, turquoise has a multi-layered history that can be traced to ancient Egypt and Aztec culture.

How do you do a scratch test on turquoise?

Fingernail Test

Run your finger nail along the surface of the stone. If you can feel the crevasses, then chances are it is a genuine Turquoise stone. The fake stone will be very smooth throughout the entire surface.

How can you tell good quality turquoise?

Natural: “High Quality Unadulterated” turquoise, cut and polished. Look for vibrant colors ranging from sky blue to green. These gems often (but not always) have a matrix-veins or blotches which vary from white to black in color.

Turquoise: Real or Fake?

How can you tell if a stone is real?

While transparent and flawless gemstones are hard to find, look for any cracks, scratches, and black spots inside the gemstone before you zero in on your purchase. You can also consult a qualified gemologist to find out if the gem is natural or not.

What is genuine turquoise?

All summed up, Genuine Turquoise is a term to describe gemstones that are cut from pure "hydrated phosphate of aluminum and copper" that is either natural, enhanced, stabilized or dyed and has not been crushed and mixed with any other material. It should not be confused with the term Natural Turquoise.

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.

Can you test turquoise with a diamond tester?

So it will not determine if rubies, sapphires or turquoise are real. The only true way to do that is through a reputable jeweler.

Does natural turquoise have white spots?

Some turquoise has its signature with the mine, for example, Sleeping Beauty turquoise is sky blue with white flecks or spots of whitish material appearance, and Bisbee turquoise has signature of brown metal like spot on the surface while manufactured imitations will appear radically different in both color and texture ...

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.

Can turquoise get wet?

Can you shower with a turquoise jewel? As mentioned before, water and humidity are not recommended. This mineral from dry and arid environments will absorb liquids and chemical products (water, soap, cream, ...) and the colour will be altered.

Is turquoise becoming rare?

With depleting mines, turquoise, the most sacred stone to the Navajo, has become increasingly rare. A sky-blue colored stone with a gray and gold spiderweb matrix sits melded into an intricate silver ring with engraved feathers along the sides.

Can you wear turquoise in the shower?

Like many gemstones, keep turquoise away from heat, chemicals such as perfumes, cosmetics and oils. As turquoise is porous it is important to keep it away from any lotions, alcohol, perfume hair spray or other cosmetics and never wear your turquoise jewelry in the shower, hot tubs or swimming.

How much is turquoise stone?

The price of turquoise stones normally range from $1 to $10 per carat but can range from $0.05 to $1000 per carat depending on the quality. The difference between quality turquoise and cheaper stones can be a little confusing.

Can you test turquoise on a presidium?

Question: Does presidium ID turquoise? Answer: Turquoise is not included in the database of the PGT II, and you will not be able to test for Turquoise with the PGT II.

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.

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 the benefit of wearing turquoise?

In order to reduce the ill-effect of planet Jupiter or any other planet in your birth chart it is adviced to wear a turquoise gemstone. It is considered to protect the wearer from injuries, violence and accidents. It plays major role in aligning the chakras.

Is Natural turquoise real?

The turquoise can still be real, but more than 1% of its composition has been enhanced. It is still real turquoise because a good part of stone is still raw turquoise, but not enough to be labeled as natural. As long as 50% of the stone is actual chemically turquoise, then it can be labeled as real turquoise.

What does turquoise symbolize?

Turquoise is a popular gemstone that has long been prized in many cultures. It's said to bring luck, peace, and protection, and it's also one of the birthstones associated with the month of December. Turquoise provides more than just the beauty of its blue color.

How can you tell if a gemstone is real or glass?