There are three basic quality factors that turquoise is judged on:. The most appreciated texture is cryptocrystalline, where microscopic turquoise crystals form a solid mass. This characteristic also influences the porosity of the material, and as a result, its durability. Porous gemstones fade and change their color. The most valuable turquoise lacks any matrix. Matrix is a country-rock, usually limonite or sandstone, where turquoise occurs.
However, matrix-free material is exclusively rare, so thin, delicate, web-like patterns across the face of the gemstone are also highly praised. Such turquoise is called spiderweb turquoise. Gems with attractive spiderweb matrices rank second in value.
Here is another approach to measuring turquoise value. It is composed of two groups of factors, subdivided into 4 indicators each. Turquoise Quality Index corresponds to a recommended price per carat.
A recommended price multiplied by the weight in carat gives the price for a turquoise gemstone. One of the main differences of this approach from others is that it takes reconstructed, enhanced, treated, and dyed turquoise into account. The last approach is the classical one. It is based on 4C characteristics , which are:. BTW: Do you want to know more about rocks and minerals identification?
The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet Amazon links :. Being so popular for thousands of years, turquoise, like the newly founded tanzanite and paraiba tourmaline become part of the culture of many nations. Turquoise is so valuable because of its attractive color and ancient heritage.
Turquoise is more part of human history and culture than mineralogy or gems market. It is so valuable because of the scarcity. Real turquoise is extremely hard to find, which also adds to the price per carat. The most prominent Persian and New-Mexican deposits of the best quality turquoise are already mined out. Add to this the fact that a lot of American mines are situated in Native American sacred lands whose inhabitants are extremely sensitive to the presence of outsiders.
These developments have exerted an upward swing in the prices of turquoise, making it very expensive. This is a difficult question to answer since it is not an apple-to-apple kind of thing. Turquoise is a stone while gold is a metal. And the most expensive turquoise is the Lander Blue—an entirely spider-webbed turquoise in medium to a deep blue color with a black contrasting matrix. But what makes it so expensive is not only its appearance but more its rarity.
Only 90 to pounds of this turquoise grade was produced before the mine was closed. If price is the issue, not value, Lander Blue is the winner. But which turquoise is most valuable? T h at would be the Blue Turquoise. This is most prized among collectors—something they would give an arm or a leg for to add to their collection. The traditional source of this turquoise grade is the Nishapur district of Iran.
To the untrained eye, knowing a good quality to a bad one is next to impossible. So if you are simply a hobbyist, it is best to buy polished stones. Or consult the turquoise price guide , to get a better idea. Turquoise has been mined and used in Native American jewelry for thousands of years. They traded it, used it as ornaments and for ceremonial purposes. Then in , it caught the attention of American fashion purveyors. But the subject of their interest was the Persian variety, with only a trickle from the American mines.
At that time, turquoise mining was essentially manual labor with a few hand tools with its output just enough for a mom-and-pop dime store. Then in , the Roystone turquoise mine opened up in Nevada.
Things were running so well until the late s when synthetic turquoise hit the market. It caused the prices of natural turquoise to plummet, as well as its demand. People these days are more fashion-conscious than their predecessors. They want to dress up, look good and live life to the fullest. Corollary to this is their penchant for jewelry.
They want to wear jewelry with a blast from the past; jewelry items to make a statement. They want it big, weird, and wild. They want to mix their collection with a variety of colors; their emerald green tempered with a blue topaz like the one in this Perle de Lune review or turquoise. And this is expected to further grow in the coming years.
The market is full of countless jewelry items with prices ranging from very cheap to atrociously expensive. This opened a slight window for the beautiful blue turquoise to creep in, staging a comeback. This is one of the reasons why people are attracted to this gem. Another is its long history that can be traced back to prehistoric times. And yes, they also want to take refuge under the umbrella of its meanings, which the stone is full of, such as prosperity and good health. The overall choice for most buyers and collectors is a highly polished, uniform medium blue stone with no matrix, such as the Sleeping Beauty turquoise mined in Globe, Arizona.
That said, bargains abound for the serious collector. The number one rule? Know your dealer, or find a reputable one who can guide you through the minefields of real vs. Stones from lesser-known mines, such as Hachita or China Mountain, are more easily affordable.
This is true— for the same reason you can easily find fake Louis Vuitton handbags. Research is key, in tandem with knowing and trusting the dealer, store, or website. Turquoise is weighed in carats, and five carats equal one gram. Turquoise is available in a wide range of sizes. All sizes, even very small stones, are used in Native American jewelry, and large pieces of turquoise rough are popular for carvings.
For any size, the quality and evenness of the color is the overriding value factor. Turquoise Quality Factors. Its smooth, even color represents the appearance prized by most collectors.
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