It’s no secret that turquoise is a gemstone with dazzling beauty and attraction. Its authentic color makes it stand out compared to other gemstones and crystals in many ways, and although it is used for its spiritual manifestations and protection, it makes a fashionable and timeless addition to jewelry and other garments. But, what is the most-prized turquoise out there? Many who don’t have the answer come here to find out.
Turquoise is an often seen gemstone on jewelry. You can find it on earrings, engagement rings, necklaces, and even bracelets. Its authentic blue-green texture makes it incredibly attractive and stylish no matter what metal for jewelry you go with. It also fits with the most variant clothing styles and always keeps you looking young, fresh, and happy.
Turquoise has a rich civilizational and spiritual history that got it in such high regard that it is now. What’s more, the best quality turquoise is way more valuable than gold, which is why so many women like to see it on their engagement rings when they are not looking for a standard diamond or emerald ring.
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. Its popularity dates back to ancient times, which is why you might have a piece of jewelry or a relic with it etched in it. Selling it can prove quite valuable, but learning more about it is a necessity.
If you’re looking to learn more about turquoise and how much it is worth. You’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about turquoise and its origin, and we’ll detail a price chart about its worth.
Finally, we’ll help you identify and evaluate the turquoise that you may discover in your very home. Continue reading to learn more!
About Turquoise
If you’ve already known a thing or two about turquoise before, then you’ll know that it is extremely rare and is not mined in many locations. That’s why, to make it a truly valuable addition to your collection, here are additional things that you can learn about it.
Turquoise is a gemstone that consists of an alloy of aluminum and copper. Its complex formula alone is a testament to its complicated composition. It is found in mines, but it is not as abundant in the world as is the case with other minerals. That being said, it’s extremely rare and hence expensive.
Turquoise has a long history, and the first record of it being mined and sold in the market, dates back to today’s Iran, although it is not confirmed whether it was sold before in some other location. Depending on the size, shape and other properties that it was found with turquoise can be quite expensive and valuable, but more about that later.
Turquoise is so rare, that seeing it on the market often sparks a lot of debates. That’s because the original turquoise in a vein is coated with a very dense color that resembles the day sky. It is also equipped with additional brown, gold, and black structures that resemble veins and add up to its trademark appearance. That being said, it can be extremely difficult to recognize real turquoise from fake.
Turquoise can be mined in the United States, Egypt, Iran, Bulgaria, China, and other locations in the world. It also marked an important relic in the history of many countries, especially that of Africa, Asia, and the American continents.
It is also an important spiritual vessel for priests and people in particular who practice symbolism and spiritualism, which means that it was often used for healing, protection, and different spiritual ceremonies.
Particularly, arid areas such as those filled with cavities and various fractures can often contain turquoise. It can be found inside modified volcanic rocks, surrounded by iron oxide and other climatic variables which are important for its formation.
When extracted, it’s almost always combined with copper sulfide as well as potassium-feldspar porphyritic intrusives, where it’s most abundant in the USA. It’s also important to note that turquoise has cryptocrystalline textures, which means it doesn’t need much chemical clearing in order to be ready for cutting. It can be found inside veins and fractures.
Also Read: Most Valuable Rocks And Minerals: Identifying, Valuing, Collecting, And Buying
Is Turquoise Worth Anything?
With so much value being attributed to jades, diamonds, emeralds, pearls, and more, a lot of people wonder whether turquoise has any value on the market. Being exceedingly rare on the market in its real form, turquoise is extremely valuable, with many people not realizing how to use that value.
The reason that it’s so rare is that it can be located quite deep in the veins from where it’s mined. More importantly, when searching on the market, the vast majority of this brilliant gemstone is not real. That which is real is extremely expensive because it’s quite hard to extract it from nature intact.
Most stores that sell turquoise don’t have real evidence that it’s real. That being said, oftentimes they use synthetic and reconstructed turquoise which was stabilized with different chemicals, as well as dyes to keep it looking powerful and unique. That process is also quite expensive, which is why even synthetic versions of turquoise are quite expensive in the market.
Needless to say, the real turquoise is even more expensive than that and can be found for up to $1,000 per carat, with prices going, even more, up for the most sophisticated and premium versions of it. The price range changes quite often, which is why you need to follow different charts to have a better understanding of the prices.
The reason it’s so valuable is because of the rarity and the complex conditions which are necessary for its creation. It needs a very hot yet dry environment and a lot of surrounding copper to reinforce the formation. It also needs to interact with phosphorus and aluminum-rich rocks in order to be formed in the condition that we know today.
Because it’s created in such arid conditions, different chemical elements as well as physical conditions like temperature, volume, and pressure affect the way it looks and its stability. These conditions also dictate the values of the market. Below, you can learn more about those conditions.
Turquoise Value
Above we learned how is turquoise formed, as well as whether it has any value on the market or not. Now that we learned that it has immense value, it’s time to conclude what is that value and in what kind of quantities can you buy the turquoise.
For most collectors, the smaller the turquoise, the more valuable it is. That being said, if you want to buy a large turquoise rock, you’ll pay significantly cheaper than if you want to get a cabochon of turquoise which is more suitable for jewelry. In such a shape, it’s less frequent to find which makes it more expensive also.
The quality of the rocks also bears the marketplace, so the arider the conditions where it was mined, the better the quality and the more likely the value will be higher. If you want to buy a rock, you’ll have to pay anywhere from $15 to $25 per gram of the rock.
The location also plays a role in what will be the price of the turquoise. The locality of the market also plays an important role. There are different measurement units for turquoise rock, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $5 per carat, but if you want to buy per gram, you’ll have to pay anywhere from $15 to $25.
For the USA-based buyers who want to buy the rock per ounce and pound, they’ll have to squeeze anywhere from $400 to $800 and $6800 to $11,400 per ounce and pound respectively. Keep in mind that the most valuable turquoise, mined from the most famed mines can cost as much as over $5,000 per gram and over $1,500 per carat.
Below is the value chart that will help you have a better understanding of the approximate turquoise worth. Keep in mind that you should follow websites such as gemsociety.org and others to keep track with up to date turquoise values. Also, you’ll have to subscribe to those websites for that matter.
| Price | Unit |
| $3 to $5 | carat |
| $15 to $25 | gram |
| $400 to $800 | ounce |
| $6800 to $11,400 | pound |
Editor’s notes: As mentioned above, it’s more likely that you will look to buy turquoise and other valuable gems per carat and gram measure unit. The others are less likely because they are quite large quantities, and most jewelers can’t ensure that there’s a rock containing as much quality turquoise as demanded by the ounce and pound units.
How to Evaluate Turquoise?
So, you discovered a piece of turquoise at home and would like to sell it? On the other hand, you want to buy it from a jeweler or collector, but you’re not sure about its authenticity. Evaluating gemstones can be incredibly time-consuming and challenging when you don’t know much about their market values.
You can always consider appraisers and other jewelers, but you may struggle to understand them and keep up with the complex terminology. The same goes for forums that offer help to people who struggle with identifying and evaluating gems. Luckily, below we listed things to focus on when deciding the value for your turquoise gem, read on!
Texture
If you want to evaluate turquoise on your own, the first thing you should look at is the texture. Most of the turquoise will have a cryptocrystalline texture. But, what does that mean for people who are not so well-versed in this terminology?
It means that the turquoise consists of small, microscopic crystals that make a solid texture. This factor accounts for how porous is the gemstone and also decides its durability. If your turquoise has a lot of pores, likely, its beautiful color will eventually fade as a result of interactions with the environment.
Color
The actual color of turquoise can be quite difficult to explain, but it is so intense that it can be difficult to replicate it. The best gemstones are those where the color is uniform, without too many flaws and side textures that may ruin its look.
The blue needs to be medium, and slowly and steadily pull towards the green. The most intense color of turquoise is Persian blue, which is also the most valuable color. It’s called Persian blue because it’s mined in Iran. Nevertheless, it can be found in other mines too at times.
Other variations of the turquoise include sky-blue, which is as enchanting and color-rich. Finally, another variant of turquoise makes robin’s egg blue, which can often be found on jewelry and other ornaments.
Presence of Matrix
This is another complex term that may need a little explaining to do. When mining turquoise, miners often stumble upon a mattress, which is a rock located in the mine and consists of either sandstone or limonite. This rock usually reinforces the formation of turquoise and oftentimes, it can be found inside of it.
Perfectly uniform turquoise is hard to find, so those that have less of it, or lack any sandstone or limestone at all are considered the most valuable on the market.
Location
Some locations where turquoise is mined may be more valuable than others, and there, better quality turquoise occurs. Some of the most sought-after turquoises is mined exactly in Iran (Persian turquoise), as well as Egypt, Mexico, and Northwest China.
Good quality turquoise can also be found in some parts of the United States, particularly the southwestern part as the border of Mexico draws near. Other common locations where good-quality turquoise is extracted include New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re looking to buy a valuable turquoise stone, make sure to check a list of the most commonly asked questions about this beautiful gem.
Are There Other Turquoise Colors?
Yes, there are other colors of turquoise, but they may not have as recognizable a look as the original blue turquoise has. Other variations of turquoise include purple turquoise and green turquoise.
What Is White Buffalo Turquoise?
The White Buffalo Turquoise is the name miners and jewelers use for trading. It’s a separate rock that consists of calcites but is usually found close to turquoise and sold along it. It can be mined in Nevada and can cost up to $200-300 per cabochon.
Where to Buy Turquoise?
Because it’s so rare, it can be difficult to buy real turquoise. However, some of the local online marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy may have it. Still, it’s important to be super-careful to ensure you’re buying a genuine turquoise and not a fake one.
Other jewelry stores may also have turquoise for sale, but only as part of some other jewelry pieces. Durango Silver Company may be one of a few places where you can buy genuine Turquoise.
