Is there fake turquoise?

Typically fake turquoise is made out of a soft mineral called howlite, which is dyed to look just like turquoise. Other imitations include magnesite, plastic, epoxy, and resin that are all dyed to resemble the real deal.

How can you tell real turquoise from fake?

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. If you aren't able to scratch the stone, it's likely genuine Turquoise!

Can turquoise be fake?

Most of the time, fake turquoise is made out of a material called Howlite. Howlite is a type of material that has the same color as turquoise and can be easily identified by its hardness. Other common fake turquoise materials are plastic, glass and porcelain.

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.

What color is genuine turquoise?

Turquoise is a semi-transparent to opaque stone that ranges in color from whitish blue to deep dark blue, and from deep dark green to a yellowish green. Traditionally, it was said that the most prized turquoise color was a medium robin's egg blue.

Turquoise: Real or Fake?

How can you tell if a stone is real?

Apply heat test by using a lighter, if the stone melts down then it is fake (plastic) and if the stone remains solid then it is original.

How expensive is real turquoise?

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.

How can you tell the quality of 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.

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.

How do you identify turquoise in nature?

To test the piece in question, place it under a magnifying glass. If it has anything but a smooth surface, or you find small flecks of blue inside a lighter-toned piece, you are not looking at natural turquoise. Rather, you have something made of plastic, ceramic, or glass.

Why is turquoise so expensive?

Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed. Government restrictions and the high costs of mining have also impeded the ability to find gem-quality turquoise. Very few mines operate commercially and most of today's turquoise is recovered as a byproduct of copper mining.

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 Purple turquoise real?

Often called "The Purple Turquoise" sugilite is actually not a turquoise at all. It was first discovered in Japan in 1944 and was named after the man that discovered it; Ken-ichi Sigi. The first specimens were a yellow color and not purple at all.

Does turquoise have white in it?

Fake turquoise is actually an absorbent white mineral called howlite. And this super absorbent mineral howlite can be dyed in almost any color imaginable.

Which turquoise is most valuable?

Blue 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.

What is a Sleeping Beauty turquoise?

Known for its unique color that ranges from chalky-blue, similar to 'robin's egg' blue to sky-blue, to deep-blue, the Sleeping Beauty turquoise is for sure one of the most sought after gemstones in the turquoise world. According to research, the darker it is, the rarer it is.

How do you test for turquoise at home?

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!

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.

Is composite turquoise real?

Smaller pieces of turquoise may be bonded together to form larger pieces. The individual pieces are all turquoise; therefore the entire stone is still considered genuine turquoise. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) refers to this as "Composite" turquoise.

Which country has the best turquoise?

"The most common places known for good quality turquoise are Iran (Persia), Egypt, Northwest China, Mexico and the southwestern part of the United States. Although there can be mines found in many states, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada are the most common places where you will find them.

What is AAA grade turquoise?

Best (AAA)

These turquoise stones have a sky-blue hue and are also eye-clean. In terms of quality, this category features the top 10% of the turquoise stones.

Is turquoise more green or blue?

Teal is usually more green than blue, but it depends on what shade of teal you're going for. Teal is actually a mix of green and cyan (also known as aqua), which is a lighter blue. Which is more blue, teal or turquoise? Turquoise tends to be more blue than teal, which as mentioned above has a green base.

Which finger should I wear turquoise ring?

In case you choose to wear a Turquoise ring, always wear it on the right-hand ring finger, preferably during the Shukla Paksha on a Thursday morning.

Can you wear turquoise everyday?

You can wear turquoise jewelry every day provided it is cared for. The gemstone undergoes treatments to enhance its beauty, some of these include stabilization, dyeing and waxing or oiling. This improves its color and durability; however, exposing turquoise to heat can cause discoloration and surface damage.

Is Chinese turquoise valuable?

The best natural Chinese turquoise is often withheld from the American market, making it quite rare and valued by collectors.