... is what I have turquoise? A list of stones often called turquoise in the trade. Some are and many are not. If you have any questions about the gemstone you have and whether or not it is turquoise, take a look at the pictures and see if ou can identify the bead you have.

Top to bottom

1. Howlite, notice the grey web or matrix
2. Dyed blue howlite
3. Magnesite
4. Dyed blue jasper, aka turquoise jasper
5. Yellow Jasper, aka yellow turquoise jasper
6. Block, made from compressed turquoise and resin with color added
7. Clear stabilized Chinese, often incorrectly referred to as "natural turquoise"
8. Green Chinese, stabilized and color shot
9. Ma'an Shan Chinese, stabilized and color shot
10. Kingman Arizona, clear stabilized
11. Sleeping Beauty natural chips

All natural cabochons L to R are
A.Pilot Mountain
B.Kingman Birdseye
C.Blue June
D.Morenci
E.Blue and green Royston

To put all of this in perspective, a strand of the howlite or magnesite can be purchased for what a gram or so of the natural turquoise cabochons cost, and that’s if you get a really good deal!

There are other colors out there right now, everything from purple to pink to yellow to red to mosiacs. I personally know of only one producer in Arizona that makes some of these products from stabilized and color shot low grade material. There very well may be other producers I am not aware of. Most of all I see on the market and at bead shows is dyed magnesite or something similar.

To read an article on learning about turquoise click here.

Disclaimer: I am not a gemologist, or geologist. I design with many stones and sell them. I believe everything has its place and at the same time, there is no need to knowingly misrepresent a product. This information is accurate to the best of my knowledge and is not intended for anything other than a sharing of understanding and knowledge.