Turquoise is a copper mineral found throughout the world. It is associated with the sky. It has been used by different peoples throughout the world for centuries as a talisman stone. I was told that “when you see turquoise you will have a good day”. It is one of my favorite stones. There are many grades of turquoise. All the turquoise I sell is from the United States or from Mexico. The best way to describe it specifically is to describe what mine it came from. In addition to the specific location where it was mined are the grades. I sell natural and stabilized turquoise. Natural turquoise is just as the name implies. It is natural and untreated just as it was found in the earth. Natural turquoise WILL absorb oils from your skin, soap, etc. It WILL change color over time when you wear it in jewelry. Stabilized turquoise has been treated with an epoxy resin. The turquoise that is stabilized would be too soft to be used in jewelry if it were not treated. Stabilized turquoise WILL NOT absorb oils from your skin or soap. It WILL NOT change color over time when you wear it. I highly recommend the book: Turquoise Unearthed: an Illustrated Guide by Joe Dan Lowry and Joe P. Lowry, published by Rio Nuevo Publishers. It is an excellent reference guide. In the 1970’s there were many charlatans trying to cash in on southwestern jewelry and turquoise in particular. Plain white rocks like howlite were dyed blue to make fake turquoise. Those that sold the real deal chased away those that sold the fake dyed stuff. Today there are new folks trying to pull the wool over the eyes of consumers. Chinese turquoise is often dyed howlite made to look just like real turquoise. There is real Chinese turquoise but there are many fakes too. I only sell real turquoise not dyed howlite. In the following pictures are a pair of natural Sleeping Beauty (Globe, AZ) turquoise nuggets, a pair of Kingman, AZ stabilized turquoise nuggets and a pair of Chinese FAKE dyed howlite nuggets. Can you tell the difference?
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