Different Types of Turquoise – Part Three

Turquoise is the kind of gemstone that connects you through time and space to humanity’s ancestors. Whether it is the stone’s use for Tutankhamen’s burial mask or the mask of Xiuhtecuhtli – who is called the Turquoise Lord – the gems with the blue and green hues have become the stuff of legends.

Not surprisingly, plenty of modern jewelry buyers love this stone and look for pieces to wear themselves. What types of stones will you usually be able to choose from? Which ones are inferior and what kinds should you buy – if you can afford them?

New Landers turquoise. Although not necessarily a turquoise in the strictest term of the definition, this yellow stone, which may also feature a white color with brown webbing, looks just like the stone in question. New Landers turquoise is famous for its matrixed look.

Number 8 turquoise.Coming from Nevada’s Eureka County, the original Number 8 version was a startling dark blue with breathtaking spider webbing. Once exhausted, the current stones are a lighter blue and feature a brown matrix. There have also been some light green finds, but they required a stabilization treatment, which made them undesirable for the serious collector.

Orville Jack turquoise. Because of the zinc in the rocks, the Orville Jack type of turquoise is of a startling yellow green coloration. The matrix can be brown but blotching is not uncommon.

Persian turquoise.Now known as Iran, the stones found there are nevertheless known as Persian turquoise. These are the quintessential sky blue stones with an intensity that puts other rocks to shame. If you think you are holding a robin’s egg and have to do a double take, you are probably looking at a Persian stone.

Pilot Mountain turquoise. Mined near Tonopah, there is a wide variety of stones and colors coming from Pilot Mountain. The pieces are exquisite because of their deep blue coloration that is interrupted by gold matrix and brown blotching. Light green pieces are also available.

Royston turquoise.Coming from the same general area, the Royston pieces may be blue or green and feature fine tan patching.

Sleeping Beauty turquoise. Found in Arizona, Sleeping Beauty turquoise is used

by Zuni Pueblo artisans for their wares. It is of sky blue coloration and features black blotches. It is this look that most novices associate with the gemstone known as the turquoise.

Stormy Mountain turquoise. Another Nevada stone, it does not feature the famous webbing. Instead, the stones are of a lusterless blue coloration that seems to have a good bit of gray in it. They are not a favorite of jewelry makers.

Turquoise mountain turquoise. Also found near Tonopah, these stones offer a wide range of coloration. Some are white while others fall into the traditional blue and green camps. Stones found here are expensive on the open market.

Tyrone turquoise.Mined in New Mexico, Tyrone turquoise is sky blue and features golden as well as tan matrix designs. There is a distinct similarity between some of these stones and the Persian variety. If you find a dark blue stone that features a mottled black matrix, you have hit the jackpot.

We hope you enjoyed our excursion into the world of the turquoise. Who knew that there were so many varieties? Missed Part One or Part Two? Follow their links to learn all you ever wanted to know about the different types of turquoise.

At Peter Suchy Jewelers we carry many pieces of vintage turquoise jewelry so we invite you to stop by our showroom located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut.

If you love shopping for antique turquoise online, hop on over to our eBay store where you'll learn we are a top-rated PowerSeller with 100 percent positive feedback.

Please do follow us on Facebook and check out our inspiring Pinterest Boards and feel free to repin! 

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Different Types of Turquoise – Part One

Available in green, blue and blue-green, turquoise on occasion, also comes with blue and white streaks. The opaque gemstone has captured the imagination of artisans since the times of the Aztecs and ancient Egyptians. Due to a large number of chemical variations, there are plenty of different types of turquoise. Some are so subtle that only a trained gemologist can spot the difference. Others are so obvious that even a novice can pinpoint the variation.

Here at Peter Suchy Jewelers we thought we’d do something unique and bring you a three-part article series all about the different types of turquoise!

Ajax turquoise. Mined in the Royston area of Nevada, this type of turquoise is frequently of a light blue color. Veins may be blue. In some cases, there are also blue blotches that take the place of the veins. Occasionally, greenish patina seems to overshadow the pieces. Look also for pieces that favor the green color end of the spectrum and showcase small patches of gold or brown.

Bisbee turquoise.Coming from the Lavender Pit copper mine owned by the Phelps Dodge Corporation, Bisbee turquoise is a secondary product after copper. These gemstones feature a startling sky blue hue with uneven purple or brown blotching. Brown webbing turns some blue pieces into marvels of unique artwork. Owners of this type of turquoise frequently realize excellent resale prices for their pieces.

Enhanced Bisbee turquoise. Stemming from the same locale, these stones lack the beauty of the sky blue coloration. There are some hints at the gorgeous turquoise and it requires soaking in a special solution to enhance the colors of these stones.

Stabilized Bisbee turquoise. Stabilized Bisbee stones lack the depth of the naturally occurring sky blue turquoise. Treatments bring out the color but it lacks luster. Even so, the flat coloration of these stones still offers beauty in its own right.

Black widow turquoise. Another Nevada product, black widow turquoise comes from a tiny mine. The main color component is a mint green with a slightly blue hue. Black webbing has served to give these stones their unusual name. Production from this mine is minor.

Blue diamond turquoise. Featuring a higher than normal amount of black chert matrix, the blue diamond type of turquoise comes from central Nevada. The blue color is deep. While some claim this to be the most superior type of turquoise currently on the market, it does not command this type of price. In part, the black chert makes it unattractive to many jewelry buyers who want more blue and less black in their jewelry.

Blue gem turquoise.Coming from Lander County in Nevada, blue gem turquoise was first mined in 1934. Look for stunning blues and greens. Some stones are almost entirely free of webbing while others feature brown matrix or some spider webbing.

Blue moon turquoise.Found near Nevada’s Tonopah, blue moon turquoise features the rare white to light blue color set. Occasional black chunks and some tan patching heighten the visual aesthetics of these pieces. If you can find this type of turquoise, it is priced to sell. Should production ever increase, it is bound to create a following in the jewelry market, which might just make it unaffordable.

Peter Suchy Jewelers carries many pieces of vintage and estate turquoise jewelry so we invite you to visit our showroom located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut.

If you enjoy shopping for antique turquoise online, head on over to our eBay store where you’ll find we are a top-rated PowerSeller with over 5,000 transactions to date and 100 percent positive feedback.

Please do like us on Facebook and be sure to check out our amazing Pinterest Boards and we encourage sharing!

Stay tuned for more information on turquoise!

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