Is turquoise man made?

Very often the material sold as "reconstituted turquoise" is artificial, with little or no natural stone, made entirely from resins and dyes. In the trade reconstituted turquoise is often called "block turquoise" or simply "block".

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.

How can I tell if my 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.

Where does real turquoise come from?

Turquoise has been mined all over North America for hundreds of years, but its richest deposits have always been found primarily in the southwestern states of Arizona and Nevada. California has also been a popular source of the opaque blue gemstone over the years, with mines found in San Bernardino and Inyo Counties.

How is turquoise made in the earth?

The mineral turquoise is formed by a chemical reaction which occurs when water containing specific minerals such as copper and aluminum leak through a rock. It forms in veins, which later then turn into a clump of turquoise.

Buyer's Guide to Spotting Real

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.

Is turquoise a mineral or a rock?

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH) 4H₂O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue.

What happens if you get turquoise 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 worth anything?

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.

Is turquoise rarer than diamonds?

By definition of rarity (not market size) turquoise is rarer than diamonds. Diamonds deserve their place in the world of gemstones as a commerce gemstone. They are an easy gemstone and subject to learn about and grade.

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 dyed?

Acetone: This involves either soaking your stone in acetone, or rubbing part of the stone with acetone to see if any color comes off. If it does, this means you have a dyed stone.

What is natural turquoise?

Natural turquoise is a hydrous aggregate of copper and aluminum. Turquoise gets its color from the amount of either copper or iron present. Vivid blue turquoise is a result of high copper content and the softer green tones result from iron. Turquoise stones have varying degrees of matrix.

Is turquoise mined ethically?

Mining only using hand tools has meant that only a very minimal amount of earth (less than half an acre) has been disturbed despite being mined for over 75 years. This makes this American turquoise an ethical choice for those concerned with environmental issues.

Does turquoise break easily?

Turquoise by nature is a relatively soft, porous stone, and it can vary greatly in its quality. Only higher grade natural turquoise is actually dense enough that it can be cut and shaped without damaging the stone. Softer, lower grade turquoise has to be treated in some way in order for it to be usable in jewelry.

What is the difference between natural and genuine turquoise?

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 is the rarest type of 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.

Does real turquoise change color?

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. Blue turquoise that contains copper can change from a light blue to a dark green.

Does turquoise have gold veins in it?

There are Turquoise deposits in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Virginia. High Grade American Turquoise is of the greatest value around the world, second to none. American Turquoise has adorned many wonderful pieces of jewelry, sterling silver jewelry and gold jewelry alike.

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.

Can I sleep with turquoise?

According to Winquist, not every crystal is suitable for the room you sleep in. “Crystals that can be overstimulating should not be kept in the bedroom,” she says. These include turquoise and moldavite.

Can I wear turquoise ring 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 green turquoise rare?

There are no large deposits of Lime Green Turquoise in the United States and this color of Turquoise is very rare, valuable and highly collectible. To sum it up, Lime Green Turquoise is absolutely a rarity in nature.

Is turquoise a semi precious stone?

While fine turquoise is becoming rarer and more valuable because less of it is being discovered than at any time in history, turquoise continues to be called a “semi-precious” stone.

What are some fun facts about turquoise?