Less than 3% of the turquoise available on the market today is totally natural. Due to the decrease of natural turquoise being found in mines across the world, it is very rare to see totally natural and 100% untreated turquoise available to buy in beads or
The answer is yes. Turquoise is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Rare- (of an event, situation, or condition) not occurring very often. (of a thing) not found in large numbers and consequently of interest or value.
High-Quality Turquoise
The highest quality turquoise (clear color, low porosity, no matrix) ranges from $1,500 to $25,000 per gram. To put this into perspective, gold is roughly $60 per gram.
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.
First, rub a cotton swab with pure acetone ( nail polish remover). Then apply it to the questionable turquoise stone and wait 10 minutes to see if any green or blue color transfers off the stone along with the liquid. If the turquoise you're examining is real turquoise, the blue color will not rub off.
Quick Summary: Turquoise is a valuable and a rare gemstone. Its starting price per carat starts for $3 to $5. However, some high quality Turquoise can be much more valuable with it exceeding the price of $1,000 to $1,500. Turquoise got its name after its enchanting color and has been mined around for a long time.
The fake Turquoise is usually made from howlite. It is a gray and white stone with dark gray veins. This can be dyed blue to look like the real Turquoise stone. Because the howlite stone has gray veins, when it is dyed blue it kind of looks like Turquoise.
Gemologists and miners alike believe that over 90% of turquoise being traded and sold is modified in some way. This is why high-grade pieces are so expensive, often three times the cost of gold, and worth the investment.
Your turquoise turning green is a good sign, as real turquoise gemstones turn green over time. Turquoise gemstones are porous and absorb oil and water, which causes discoloration over time.
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.
With a ranking of 5 – 6 on the Mohs scale, turquoise is neither hard nor a very soft gemstone. This means other stones that are comparatively harder than turquoise can damage it if they come in direct contact. Conversely, if turquoise is stored with softer stones, then the latter are susceptible to damage.
Otteson says that not only is really top-notch turquoise considered more valuable than diamonds, but it can be worth much more than other types of precious stones and metals that are often considered the most coveted jewelry staples.
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.
Undeniably one of the world's rarest and most intriguing Turquoises, Australian Turquoise's beauty is totally natural, which is significant for a gemstone where over 90 percent is heavily enhanced.
Heirloom-quality turquoises are rare, and therefore considered to be extremely valuable. Such stones are prized for their intense, medium blue color, which is often compared to the blue hue seen on the robin's eggs. Also, lack of matrix and the ability to take a good polish further increases their overall value.
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 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.
Avoid dish soap, dish wash water, hot water, soap, lotion, sunscreen, coffee, tea, oil, soaking in water, or oil-based substance. They will change the color of your natural turquoise stone. Turquoise is a porous material and has a great affinity for oils or grease; it absorbs like a sponge.
Turquoise is a porous gemstone which means that it can start to absorb the water. You may see the color change to deeper if you do soak it in water.
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!
As the stone of cleansing, turquoise is particularly good for releasing bad habits and negative energy. Turquoise is also a calming stone that can induce internal serenity and lift depleted spirits.
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 December. Turquoise stones have many meanings that go above and beyond the beauty of the blue color they provide.
-Scratch test: real turquoise is relatively soft and can be scratched with a knife, while fake turquoise is harder and will not be scratched as easily.
When many people think of howlite, they imagine a beautiful turquoise colour. However, natural occurring howlite stone isn't actually blue. Instead, it tends to be white or gray. But whether it's the colour of a radiant summer sky or freshly fallen snow, howlite's veining makes it an intriguing stone.