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All the signs that turquoise stones, crystals, and jewelry are real
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There’s no question that turquoise is one of the most popular gems with its gorgeous blue hue, ancient history, and spiritual ties. If you’re looking for turquoise jewelry or a gem to add to your crystal collection, it’s not always 100% clear if this stone is real or fake. That’s why we’re here to make spotting real turquoise easier. In this article, we’ve listed easy ways to check and test your turquoise for authenticity. If you’re ready to find out if your turquoise is real, read on!

Things You Should Know

  • Real turquoise is rare, so it comes with an expensive price tag. Fakes are made with dyed howlite, magnesite, or plastic that is cheap to produce.
  • Authentic turquoise is an opaque robin’s egg blue or greenish blue. If it’s transparent or white, red, or purple, it’s probably fake.
  • Real turquoise doesn’t scratch easily. If you can chip at your piece with your fingernail or a coin, it’s likely a fake.
  1. If it seems like the price of the turquoise jewelry or gem you’re looking at is too good to be true, it probably is. Turquoise is a rare stone that typically costs between $1-10 per carat (1 carat is equal to 200 milligrams).[1] Imitation turquoise is usually made from minerals like howlite, magnesite, and glass, as well as plastic and resin, which are dyed blue. These minerals and materials are much cheaper to produce.[2]
    • For example, a real beaded turquoise necklace might cost upwards of $700, while a fake is often as cheap as $20.[3]
    • Look for turquoise from reputable jewelers with Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certifications, or from GIA-certified gemologists.[4]
    • Ask retailers where the turquoise comes from. Most of it is mined in the United States, Mexico, Iran, Chile, Egypt, and China. A reputable seller will know exactly where the turquoise came from, while imitators won’t.
    • Fake turquoise is often sold under names like Buffalo Turquoise, Viennese Turquoise, Utah Turquoise, and Turqurenite.[5]
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  1. Turquoise only comes in these colors, so if you see white, red, purple, yellow, or bright green turquoise, it’s fake. The real deal is an opaque stone where the color isn’t always perfectly distributed, so there might be some lighter or darker spots. It’s not transparent or translucent, which is another sign of a fake.[6]
    • Fake turquoise might also have white spots, which you don’t see in real turquoise. These white spots are usually places where the dye didn’t fully absorb.
    • If you have a rough-cut turquoise, look at the cracks and grooves on the gem. The dye used on fakes often builds up in these areas, which is unnatural in real turquoise.
    • Turquoise is formed from copper and aluminum, which is where it gets its rich color.
  1. Turquoise forms inside limonite and sandstone, so it often contains thin lines or thick splotches of brown rock throughout, which is called a spider web matrix.[7] While howlite also has a webbed pattern, its lines are longer, more rounded, and more flowy than a true turquoise’s sharp edges. Howlite’s webbing is also light gray, which you don’t typically see in real turquoise.[8]
    • Fake turquoise made out of plastic or resin might have webbing that’s painted on. Inspect the lines closely to see if there are obvious paint strokes.
    • Not all turquoise has a webbing matrix and many jewelers cut it out. If your turquoise is completely solid, use another method to check its authenticity.
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  1. If you suspect that you have inauthentic turquoise, hold it in one hand and a similarly sized piece of plastic or resin in the other. If the gem feels about the same weight as the plastic, it’s probably fake.[9]
    • Plastic has a specific gravity of around 0.9 while turquoise has a specific gravity of 2.5-2.9, so turquoise usually feels twice as heavy as fakes.[10]
    • Fake turquoise made from howlite, magnesite, or glass is a similar weight to real turquoise, so use another test to determine if you have an authentic piece.

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about identifying gemstones, check out our in-depth interview with Kennon Young.

About This Article

Kennon Young
Co-authored by:
Master Gemologist Appraiser
This article was co-authored by Kennon Young and by wikiHow staff writer, Devin McSween. Kennon Young is a Master Gemologist Appraiser and the Owner of Vermont Gemological Laboratory in Burlington, Vermont. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kennon and his team specialize in handmade engagement rings, wedding bands, and custom jewelry. He attended the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, the Gemological Institute of America, and the Rhode Island School of Design Extension. He is a Jewelers of America (JA) Certified Bench Jeweler Technician and received the highest credential in the jewelry appraisal industry, the ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser, in 2016. This article has been viewed 51,725 times.
39 votes - 95%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: August 8, 2023
Views: 51,725
Categories: Selling Jewelry
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 51,725 times.

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