How to Identify Authentic Real Turquoise Stone: The Complete Buyer’s Guide

Distinguishing authentic real turquoise stone from imitations needs an expert and thorough checking. Genuine specimens are what collectors worldwide are after among an infinite number of gemstones available for sale. By being knowledgeable about the markers of authenticity, buyers protect themselves from making expensive mistakes. This all-inclusive guide is the disclosure of the secrets behind the professionals’ way of turquoise identification.

What Makes Real Turquoise Stone Authentic

Turquoise is a real and natural stone that has been made under very specific natural processes that takes millions of years. Groundwater rich in copper slowly reacts with rocks containing aluminum and phosphorus. The gradual natural reaction gives turquoise the one-of-its-kind blue and green hues as well as other characteristics that are quite unique. Besides the changes in the color most also differ in texture and matrix pattern the better quality ones.

Even with the present day technological advancement, natural turquoise still has the host rock materials called matrix. These are the veins that form the patterns which are the unique characters of each sample. The stones display irregular color distribution and the rest show natural life marks. Those made by machines do not have these organic characteristics at all. 

Over time, as temperature changes, natural turquoise is affected. Synthetic stones are more likely to keep their color no matter the conditions they have been exposed to. Real stones present minor color changes throughout their lifetime in the process of aging. Therefore, this aging process differentiates the non-true specimens from the artificially made ones.

Common Turquoise Imitations to Avoid

The most common substitute for turquoise is Howlite which is widely used to imitate turquoise in the market. The white howlite is dyed blue so that it looks like turquoise. However, howlite does not share the hardness and density properties of real turquoise. A simple scratch test will show howlite’s softer nature very quickly.

Another imitation of turquoise is magnesite which is made by dyeing the white mineral. The mineral accepts the blue dye easily but it still feels different from the authentic turquoise. The magnesite samples are more uniformly colored compared to the natural turquoise stones. One can use the weight differences to distinguish magnesite from the real samples.

Plastic and resin composites are the cheap jewelry markets that are all over the world. It is very inexpensive to manufacture these synthetic materials that cost only a few cents. However, they do not have the cool temperature feeling and the natural weight that turquoise has. The plastic pieces can be easily found by heat tests when they start to melt or give off a burning smell.

Reconstructed turquoise is genuine turquoise powder mixed with adhesives. The companies that make these products have complete control over their manufacturing and thus, there are no natural matrix patterns or variations. By definition, these products have real turquoise in them, but they are not really geological. Most of the time, collectors do not incorporate reconstituted pieces in their serious collections.

Physical Tests for Real Turquoise Stone

One of the quickest ways of testing real turquoise against fakes is through a temperature test. Even if the ambient temperature is high, natural turquoise still feels cool to the skin. On the other hand, synthetic materials become warm quickly when handheld for a long time. Hence, this simple test can be used to rule out the fakes one after another. 

The test of hardness is another method for separating the real turquoise from substitutes with a softer composition. The genuine turquoise has a hardness of 5-6 on the Mohs hardness scale always. Whereas howlite and magnesite are at 3.5 and 4 respectively which are notably softer than turquoise. The differences in hardness that are brought out by the careful scratch tests are very clear.

One of the ways to compare the weights is to check the density differences between the authentic stones and the imitations. In general, natural turquoise has a specific gravity of about 2.6-2.9. The plastic versions feel lighter than the original ones. With enough practice, experienced collectors train their hands to develop an intuitive skill of identifying the weight of objects.

Fluorescence by light of certain turquoise can be found by UV light examinations. Some genuine minerals can be seen to glow under ultraviolets differently. Though not all natural turquoise will fluoresce hence, this method is only auxiliary. For the greatest outcome, using UV testing together with other verification techniques is recommended.

Visual Identification Techniques

The color test is one of the most important authenticity tests that reveal many signs of the real turquoise stone. Clear, authentic turquoise is not one color but shows a mix of different shades of blue and green. The transition between the colors is smooth and natural. On the other hand, the color of fakes is almost perfectly even, which is one of their typical features. 

For experienced collectors who are good at reading a stone, the matrix patterns would be a good authenticity clue. The natural matrix is drawn with irregular veins and, in general, the patterns of the geological formation are quite complex. Most of the host rock inclusions are randomly distributed in the area of injection of the specimens from the mine. On the contrary, artificial matrix patterns are the result of a mechanical process and, therefore, the patterns repeat without any natural variation. 

Surface texture plays a major role in differentiating between manufacturing processes and natural ones. One fact to consider is that the natural turquoise that is exposed to the elements over a long period of time will show unique surface characteristics caused by the weathering process. Machine-polished synthetics completely lack these organic surface features and have a very smooth surface. Further, the use of magnification to look for and compare the natural and the artificial texture is very effective in separating them. 

The feature of the stone most often used by jewelers and professionals to single out real turquoise from almost all kinds of synthetic alternatives is the quality of the luster. As the luster of the real turquoise goes from waxy to subvitreous depending on the conditions of the formation, the plastic imitations are usually of an artificial glossy which is quite different from the natural one. Expectedly, the different light reflection characteristics of the resins used in composites make the stones of these materials look quite different from the genuine ones. 

Professional Authentication Methods 

Gemological testing is a sure way of authenticating valuable real turquoise specimens. The professional gemologists use various instruments for the task, mainly a spectrometer and a microscope. It is basically these instruments that tell you the chemical makeup and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal very accurately. High-end specimens for investments are the ones which easily justify the cost of going for professional authentication. 

X-ray diffraction method gives the absolute identification of the mineral that explains it fully differentiating from all other kinds of materials. This method, thus, makes it very difficult for any other materials to be confused with the turquoise. Museums and serious collectors use the XRD technique as the main method for authenticating crucial specimens. Nevertheless, this method calls for a lot of money to get the equipment as well as a skillful operator to carry it out. 

Chemical tests provide an analysis that can pinpoint what elements are present in the materials; this is helpful for differentiating authentic and synthetic materials. Natural turquoise uses around certain amounts of copper, aluminum, and phosphorus to be consistent. Laboratory analyses can produce very detailed chemical fingerprints for the purpose of verification. The method can become very instrumental in the case of high-value and doubtful specimens. 

Market Values and Pricing 

The real turquoise stones will be worth nothing if one does not know their values. This is what we call the protection of the buyers not to overpay. The best priced Turquoise is that coming from the region of Persia, it is also the most expensive and rarest one. The Sleeping Beauty turquoise produces pure blue shades without any matrix patterns. On the other hand, Kingman turquoise which comes with a characteristic matrix provides the collector with the perfect balance of the good and the great. 

One of the most significant things that have an impact on the prices of turquoise is the location. The price of the mines that are already closed is going to be getting higher and higher as time goes by because the scarcity is going to push the prices up. Mines that are open or actively being mined are the locations where there is a continuous flow of supply at most stable prices. It is always a good idea to look into the histories of the mines before making any big purchases. 

If the markets are modern, then the release of a treatment will affect the pricing and the collectability to some extent. Untreated specimens are always on top of the list of the most expensive and the most favorite amongst the collectors. The stabilized ones are good for the production of jewelry, and the consumers can get them at a lower price. It is always better to be sure of the treatment before you make your final purchase. 

Building Your Collection 

The real turquoise gradually collects real turquoise while gaining knowledge gradually. Start with pieces you can afford from a trustworthy seller who offers a return policy. First, try to find out if the specimens are really genuine before you take an expensive purchase decision. You can also learn from the collectors who are in your group or at gem shows or fairs.

Conclusion

Identification of genuine natural turquoise will need you to be patient, and constantly learn while practicing. Use several testing methods to get truthful authentication outcomes. Collaborate with the dealers who have a good reputation and are experts in the gemstones for sale. The knowledge you put in will return to you in the form of confident collecting and successful acquisitions.