Is turquoise an expensive stone?
Turquoise is no more expensive than other semi-precious stones. Like them, its price varies according to quality. But most of all, it is a function of supply and demand. While demand is high, its supply is getting rarer and rarer. Why is Turquoise So Expensive?: Beauty, Rarity and Popularity Why is turquoise so expensive?
What is stone similar to turquoise?
howlite. Click to see full answer. Hereof, what other stone looks like turquoise? The most common imitation of turquoise encountered today is dyed howlite and magnesite, both white in their natural states, and the former also having natural (and convincing) black veining similar to that of turquoise. Dyed chalcedony, jasper, and marble is less common, and much less convincing.
Is turquoise a rare stone?
Turquoise was one of the first gemstones found by man over 7000 years ago, it was immediately coveted by royalty and spiritual leaders. The highest quality Turquoise has been rare and highly sought after for the duration of its history. Today, rare Turquoise such as AAA Gem Turquoise is nearly impossible to find and becoming very valuable.
How to tell if your turquoise is real?
Some tips to help you know if you have the “real deal”- how to tell if turquoise is real:
- Uniform Color. Real turquoise normally has shade and hue variations. ...
- Hot Needle Test. Stones made of plastic or covered in epoxy will begin to melt or put off an odor.
- The Nail Test. Run your fingernail along the cracks (veins) of the stone. ...
- I See Spots. ...
- Unpolish It. ...
- You Get What You Pay For. ...
What stone looks similar to turquoise?
Magnesite is a beautiful gemstone that looks similar to Turquoise or Howlite. When cut and polished into beads, it features a dark thread of veins or a web-like matrix across its surface, making it an attractive gem to use for jewelry-making projects.
What mineral looks like turquoise?
Chrysocolla is the most common mineral of similar appearance to turquoise. Both chrysocolla and turquoise form earthy to compact masses in light to medium blue tones, so hardness or density tests to differentiate between the two are not reliable.
What is the white stone that looks like turquoise?
howliteWhite (or undyed) howlite has been sold under the trade names "white turquoise," "white buffalo turquoise" and "white buffalo stone." Howlite that has been dyed turquoise blue is sometimes sold under the trade name "turquenite." Dyed howlites are sometimes coated in a resin to prevent color bleeding.
What do you call fake turquoise?
Turqurenite – a fake form of Turquoise usually composed of dyed Howlite, or dyed Magnesite. Block / Reconstituted Turquoise – small pieces of genuine Turquoise ground up and added to a matrix with resin or other minerals, to form a blue block. It contains hardly any Turquoise – if any.
Is chrysocolla like turquoise?
Color Variation of Chrisocolla In terms of color, this mineral is similar to turquoise, ranging from sky-blue to greenish blue and green. However, chrysocolla is often streaked with black. It has a range of possible lusters: from glassy or dull to earthy. Its density of 2.0-2.4 is lower than turquoise.
Is turquoise and chrysocolla the same?
Turquoise or Chrysocolla? It is quite easy to confuse the two! Both are secondary copper minerals and range in color from light blue to blue green. In addition, both commonly occur as vein fill or in nodular form (chrysocolla does not form crystals and it is very rare to find crystalline turquoise).
Is Howlite and turquoise the same?
Howlite is a white stone that has black mineral veins that are similar to that of turquoise. Therefore, when the stone is dyed it is identical to turquoise. The first red flag when it comes to dyed turquoise (or any imitation turquoise) is the price.
How can you tell turquoise from howlite?
Scratch Test The hardness of howlite is about 3.5 and Turquoise is 5-6 on the Mohs hardness scale. This test will help to determine whether it is real or fake. If it is hard to scratch then you probably have real Turquoise. If it scratches easily then you know it is howlite.
Is White Buffalo turquoise really turquoise?
White Buffalo, although technically not turquoise, is often referred to as turquoise due to its discovery in a turquoise mine. The reason behind its illustrious white color is due to its formation by the same mineralization process, "regular" in which turquoise undergoes.
How can you tell real turquoise from fake 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 blue howlite turquoise?
Turquoise / Blue Howlite is dyed Howlite. It can also be known as Turquonite or Turqurenite. It has all the generic properties of Howlite but additional properties associated with its colour. Turquoise / Blue Howlite can aid the throat chakra, dream recall and enables the understanding of dreams.
What does howlite look like?
Howlite's natural color is milky white with grayish-blue webbing across the stone. The gem has a strong, shiny luster that takes well to color-treatment. In its natural state, howlite is porous and shiny as porcelain.
What is the difference between a chrosocolla and a turquoise?
One of the biggest differences between Chrysocolla and Turquoise is hardness . Pure Turquoise while still somewhat soft is much harder than pure Chrysocolla. Turquoise is know for it's sky blue or robin's egg blue color. It can also be found in several shades of green.
What is the matrix in turquoise?
Matrix in is the host rock or impurities that are found within the turquoise. This matrix is what often makes it easy to differentiate the turquoise from other varieties of turquoise. This matrix along with rarity can greatly increase the value of a piece of turquoise.
What is the color of Sonoran Sunrise?
Sonoran Sunrise Chrysocolla cut by Marty Andersen. This unique variety of gemstone gets it's color from Chrysocolla (blue), Cuprite (red) and Tenorite (black).
What gemstones have a Mohs hardness of 7?
Other gemstones that have a Mohs hardness of 7 are Amethyst and Citrine. The highest grade of Gem Silica has good translucency (allows light to pass through), has a strong and consistent color saturation, and has no inclusions or blemishes. This very high grade of Gem Silica can cost more than $200 per carat.
Is Chrysocolla a turquoise?
Chrysocolla is not Turquoise. It sometimes amazes me to see how many people are wearing jewelry made with Chryso colla that think they are wearing Turquoise jewelry. Although they are both copper minerals and are somewhat similar in appearance, they are not the same thing. From a scientific standpoint, Turquoise is a hydrous phosphate ...
Is chrosocolla a gemstone?
Chrysocolla in it's purest form is way too soft and brittle to be used as a gemstone material. When it is mixed with other minerals it produces a stone that is not only hard enough to be used in jewelry but also gives some unique and colorful additions to the stones it is found in. Some of the minerals commonly found with Chrysocolla are Malachite, ...
Is Chrysocolla translucent?
Chrysocolla can be opaque or in it's most valuable and sought after form, translucent. While traditionally Chrysocolla has not been considered as valuable as turquoise it has gained in popularity in recent years and the price for high quality Chrysocolla has increased dramatically. Some of the most highly sought after forms ...
What is the second most popular colored gemstone?
Blue topaz is the second most popular colored gemstone of all time (according to Colored Stone magazine, sapphire is number one). Blue topaz has a hardness rating of 8 on the Mohs scale and is considered to be one of the most affordable gemstones.
What is blue gemstone?
Blue Gemstones: A Guide to Colored Stones. When it comes to colored gemstones, color is king. Today, many customers prioritize color and are less concerned with the actual gemstone variety as long as the stone is durable enough for their purpose. Buy Blue Gemstones from GemSelect.
Why are hemimorphite and smithsonite called calamine?
For many years, both hemimorphite and smithsonite were classed together as 'calamine' because of their close resemblance and gemological properties. Hemimorphite has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale and can occur in various tones of blue, green and white.
What is the color of Larimar?
Larimar is the blue to green-blue gemstone variety of pectolite. The name 'Larimar' is a trademarked name. Larimar is found in only one location in the entire world - the Dominican Republic. Larimar's distinct color is owed to calcium being replaced by copper impurities. Larimar is often mixed with calcite and hematite, which can lend it very interesting shades of blue, ranging from white-blue to light-blue, and medium sky-blue to volcanic-blue. Volcanic blue Larimar is considered to be the most valuable. Larimar is rather soft, rating just 4.5 to 5 on the Mohs scale, but its use in jewelry remains quite popular. Larimar is very popular in the Caribbean, but it is extremely hard to find in any other area of the world.
What is iolite jewelry?
Iolite is a transparent, gemstone quality form of the mineral cor dierite. It has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making quite suitable for jewelry-wear. Iolite is known to exhibit pronounced pleochroism, often displaying violet-blue, yellow-gray and light-blue all in the same stone, depending on the angle from which it is viewed. When cut properly, iolite is typically violet to purplish-blue.
What is a Swiss blue hemimorphite?
Sky to Swiss blue hemimorphite is most desirable, often exhibiting bands of blue with white streaks. Although it is more of a collector's gem than a jewelry gem, with proper settings and care, hemimorphite can be used to make extraordinary gemstone jewelry.
What is chalcedony quartz?
Chalcedony belongs to the quartz group of minerals. Technically, 'chalcedony' is the umbrella term for all cryptocrystalline quartz. It can occur in a wide range of different colors, sizes and patterns. In the gemstone trade however, the term 'chalcedony' is typically used only to refer to 'chalcedony in the narrow sense' or 'actual chalcedony', which is the solid colored, translucent light-white to bluish gemstone. It's been recently discovered that chalcedony quartz is actually a combination of quartz and a polymorph known as moganite. Chalcedony takes an excellent polish and high quality materials can exhibit a glowing attractive luster.
How to identify fake turquoise?
Most fake turquoise can be identified easily by observing its color, matrix, and more importantly, the price of the products. Professional identification services can be obtained by sending turquoise specimen to professional lab.
What is the hardness of turquoise?
Turquoise color varies from green to blue, the Mohs hardness range from 4.5 to 6, if you pay closer look of the color, I bet there will not any turquoise in the world has such a unique distribution of color, or that will be the most rare collection.
What are the three minerals that make up turquoise?
First, turquoise is a kind of mineral that only found near deposit of copper, it also requires presence of three other materials: aluminum, phosphorus, and water. The color and the turquoise hardness depend greatly on these deposits it formed on.
Is turquoise fake?
Many turquoise are fakes made of powered turquoise and epoxy around a base of rock, when others are made of a composite of powdered turquoise and glue! There are some unscrupulous local dealers from China will make composite masses of these materials and pass it off as legitimate.
What are the colors of turquoise?
Furthermore, turquoise attains it’s color from the heavy metals in the ground where it forms. 1 First of all, Blue turquoise forms when there is copper present, which is the case with most Arizona turquoise. 2 Secondly, Green turquoise forms when there is iron present, which is the case with most Nevada turquoise. Moreover, matrix is the host rock.
Where does turquoise come from?
Turquoise Mountain and “Bird’s eye” turquoise come from the same mine in Northwestern Arizona near the Kingman mine, Mineral Park Mining District. The mine was closes in the 1980’s. Turquoise Mountain turquoise is light to high blue with both web and non-web matrix.
What is the color of Pilot Mountain turquoise?
Pilot Mountain turquoise ranges in color from blue to green with a dark brown, black or reddish matrix. An appeal of this stone is it’s deep blue-green colors. Pilot Mountain cabochon in silver cuff. Pauite Turquoise mine is in the same mountain as the Godber / Burnham and Drycreek Turquoise mine in central Nevada.
How many colors are there in Cerrillos?
There are Seventy-five colors , from tan to khaki-green to rich, blue-green to bright, light colors.
Where is the turquoise mine in Nevada?
There are more than two hundred dig sites in the Cerrillos area, and the largest and most famous are the Blue Bell, Castilian and Tiffany mines. Cerrillos Turquoise cabochon in sterling bezel. Red Mountain is in Lander County, Nevada. This mine, in the past, produces a large quantity of high grade turquoise.
What is the blue gem mine?
Of the multiple Nevada miners call Blue Gem, the Battle Mountain Blue Gem mine , which begins production in 1934, yields the most valuable Blue Gem turquoise.
Where is Kingman spiderweb turquoise mine?
Kingman Spiderweb Natural Turquoise Cabochons. Cripple Creek turquoise mine is in Teller County , Colorado and is found when miners looking for gold in the area also found turquoise deposits. Two separate mines are currently active in the area both under the Cripple Creek name.
How do gemologists determine the color of a stone?
Gemologists assess color by considering hue, tone, and saturation. Gemstones often have a secondary hue in addition to a primary hue. For blue gemstones, common secondary hues are green and violet. In general, a more pure blue hue is desirable, and when a stone strays further from blue, it’s less valuable.
What is the birthstone of October?
Used with permission. Tourmaline (Indicolite and Paraíba) A modern option for the October birthstone, tourmalineshave recently increased in popularity and price. Tourmalines occur in every color, but blue specimens, called indicolites, are rare and highly prized.
What is the rarest mineral in the world?
One of the world’s rarest minerals, jeremejevite occurs in only a few places. Gem-quality specimens from Namibia exhibit light, aquamarine-blue hues. Transparent crystals from other locales are uncommon. In spite of its rarity, some lapidaries have faceted this gem. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 and no reported cleavage, this ultra-rare gem is durable enough for regular jewelry wear!
What color is a blue sapphire?
By far the most popular blue gem for faceting, a blue sapphire can have very high saturation. Royal engagements have also made it one of the most popular choices for engagement rings! This September birthstone can occur in any color except red (which is ruby ), but its classic and most well-known hues are blue to violet. These hues arise from trace amounts of titanium and iron in the gem’s crystal structure. Sapphires often undergo a heat treatment, which improves their clarity and color.
What color is Aquamarine Ever?
Known for watery blues and blue-greens, aquamarinenever reaches the dark tones and high saturation of sapphires and tourmalines. Nevertheless, darker tones hold more value, even if the stone is somewhat gray. In the past, the beloved modern March birthstone was used as a talisman to keep sailors safe at sea.
What color is Spinel?
Recently declared a modern option for the August birthstone, spinel occurs in a wide variety of colors, including blue. Though many are too dark to properly see the color, medium tones of intense saturation are beautiful to behold. Cobalt-colored spinelsare particularly prized for their bright, intense blue colors.
Where can I find cavansite crystals?
Most often found in Pune, India, cavansite crystals can have a beautiful blue hue. However, specimens large and transparent enough to facet are extremely rare. Sometimes druzy or massive cavansite is worn as jewelry. However, these stones are soft and brittle.
What is turquoise jewelry?
Turquoise has been the pinnacle of handcrafted jewelry and adornments for centuries, among a wide array of cultures around the globe. It's deep blue and green hues are known for their eye catching abilities, and depending on locality, some nuggets can include other complimentary minerals that make the mineral even more rare, valuable, and coveted.
What is the mineral hardness of turquoise?
To begin, here's some basic mineral facts about turquoise: - It has a mineral hardness of 5-6, meaning it is not scratched easily. - It is a copper mineral. - It is void of any carbonates , meaning it will not react with acid. - It has a waxy luster.
How to tell if a stone is plastic or resin?
The quickest way to telling a plastic or resin-made imitation is to take a hot needle or pin to the surface of the stone. If it begins to melt or produce a burnt plastic smell, it's either plastic or resin. Simple enough! Trade Names: The biggest kicker to fake turquoise are the trade names that it hides behind.
How to tell if turquoise is dyed?
If you suspect that your turquoise has been dyed, there's two major tell-tale tests you can do. 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. Destructive test: This test works better if you have large chunks ...
Why epoxy turquoise?
The epoxy fills the voids and porous areas of the turquoise in order to enhance the stones density and preserve its color. Only the highest grade turquoise, such as the material from the Blue Moon mine, is able to be shaped and polished without stabilization due to its density and lack of porosity.
Is turquoise a real thing?
Turquoise is one of the most commonly faked or imitated minerals on the market, with a majority of it either being dyed howlite or straight up plastic! Thankfully, there are certain tests or factors to look for when determining if your turquoise is real, dyed, or entirely lab created, which we have outlined for you below!
Is Howlite a turquoise?
Howlite is a white stone that has black mineral veins that are similar to that of turquoise. Therefore, when the stone is dyed it is identical to turquoise. The first red flag when it comes to dyed turquoise (or any imitation turquoise) is the price. Authentic turquoise is usually pretty expensive even when bought wholesale.
Appearance
Composition
Overview
Characteristics
Uses
Introduction
Properties
Varieties
Recognition
Significance
- Turquoise is one of the best-known gemstones. In fact, the color 'turquoise' was named after the gemstone and not the other way around. Pure blue turquoise is quite rare. Like many blue gemstones, turquoise will typically have a noticeable touch of green. Many turquoise gemstones are greener than they are blue. A sky-blue turquoise with minimal vei...