Very informative. My wife just purchased a neclace online. We didn't know it wasn't real turquoise, but with your information we now know that all that's "turquoise" ain't.
Years ago, my mom got my stepfather a rock tumbler for Christmas. We lived in New Mexico and during various hiking/pack lunch days, we'd find a variety of stones. At a museum in Lincoln, I noticed arrow heads on display, many looking nothing like the arrowheads you'd see near the cash register. I had suspicions they weren't real as the majority were cut perfectly, die cut. My stepfather upgraded and then began teaching himself the silver smith craft. We'd go to a "rock hound" shop where he'd choose stones. [He found an agate during a camping trip and became obsessed!] A 'geode' split in half can bring you awe inspiring wonderment with the 'jewel' you find inside. He made a squash blossom necklace using natural turquoise. Another fashioned as a "choker" with just the right size of stones. The silver beads between each of the stones are difficult to clean. The squash blossom is trying as well but you have to take your time. Thank you for your insight!
No don't ask if it's natural, they are getting around that question now. I have talked to quite a few dealers that are selling stabilized turquoise and they call it natural. You ask them why are you calling your stabilized turquoise natural? They will say, because it's still the actual turquoise stone that had been mined out but had to be stabilized because it was a lower grade or too soft of a stone. Yes most turquoise is too soft or still not the best quality for hardness, and a untreated turquoise could even change a green in color when you wear it becsuse the oils from your skin could absorb into the stone causing it to change in color if the quality was still poor. A good quality untreated turquoise (hard turquoise) will not need any treatments and keep its color and shine. When shopping for turquoise ask if the turquoise is untreated, an honest dealer should give you a honest answer. And look at the description of the turquoise you are wanting to purchase, hope it will tell you if it's stabilized ( but not all will) don't be afraid to ask your dealer the questions. I also would not purchase from turquoise listed as genuine turquoise unless maybe it has a decription of untreated, I see alot listed as that, and it is alot of the time that cheap block turquoise or Howlite died to look like turquoise. Also I am not sure what this gallery grade turquoise means either, sounds like a fancy way of lableing their stabilized turquoise without letting the buyer actually know it's stabilized. Just make sure you ask the question....Has this turquoise been treated at all? Hopefully this will help you be more likely to get a good quality untreated turquoise and less likely to get something else. One of the best places to purchase your turquoise is directly from the miners, then you know what mine it came from and they would be able to let you know if the turquoise has been treated or not. But if you are interested in the stabilized than that's fine to, then you can ignore most of this comment.
Louisa: Then all those shopping channels like QVC, Shop LC, JTV, Evine (HSN) are selling fake stones? It's the Zachery treatment approve by the gem industry?
As if the dealer would give you an honest reply and tell you his collection is fake or treated or zaccarised. They even has raised the price of the fake so high to make you believe its authentic like pristine rock from mine. They have started laquering the stone so good luck on the colour test. Authentic store will agree to take back with full refund if you take the stone in any lab and get it tested - and it comes out fake. Or buy them from a reputed artist.
Thank you.. we live in Arizona....and went to a turquoise processing..store/shop...and we didnt buy anything because we wanted authentic stone...and our confidence in the product just wasnt there. This helps understand all that might be out there.
Maria good question by what i have read they have to stabilised it because it a porous stone????? I have to look what stabilised mean Good luck Ps i have watch 2 videos from a woman who works at the Museum of Native Americans Art and she explains that some of the items she shows date from hundreds years old and they are not all real but for the Native what was important is the blue color 1 is called Turquoise real or fake 2 is called color and meaning I did find quite interesting It shows that the blue was important It,s the interest for turquoise by white people that has developed "fake or real" and of course the prices
NIce video and loved seeing the plastic samples at the beginning. Anyone know if the 'plastic samples' still contained ground up powder of turquoise stones? or did they use zero turquoise components, and only use dye/paint. thanks.
It always amazes me the cultural differences between natives and those of European ancestry regarding turquoise. Amerinds care mostly about the color, so whether plastic or stone, turquoise is turquoise. However Mexicans and Americans tend to care far more about whether it's a gemstone formed naturally.
I have coral spine necklace can't be sold even more. Fabulous. I wish you could tell me if my dead mom's very old huge chunk turquoise ear rings are real.
Nice! I was looking for a turquoise ring for my sister for Christmas.. Stumbled across this you tube video. Bought a ring from your site! Thanks! (Word of advice... add the URL to your website to your video descriptions)
I thought it was an awesome explanation. If the material is a natural rock of Any kind, it's real. That doesn't mean it's "natural" turquoise. So, like the man says, your question is, "Is this natural turquoise?" Since the vast amount of blue or blue-d rock out there is not natural turquoise, I'd assume it's not natural when buying from a roadside stand or garage sale. If I thought otherwise, I'd pay to have it appraised. Simple.
Hi this is a great video thank you for sharing, but the last larger stand that you show surrounding the white piece of howlite, you are referring to as howlite strand, and that is wrong and misleading, that is a stabilized turquoise, not howlite. I am also a turquoise dealer, I'm sure it's just an oversight between the video editing team and you... and wasn't intentional, but it would help solve consumer confusion, again great video! Thank you.
I sell on ebay, and I am always at a loss to figure out if something is natural turquoise or not...sometimes I figure it out, like Howlite, for example really does look too uniform--I had a heishi necklace with cut shell and what I thought was turquoise chunks, but my gut told me it wasn't right, and indeed it was howlite--is it alright to use the term "stabilized" turquoise to indicate a bead that isn't natural?
The webbing on howlite is too pronounced and uniform--looking closely you can tell that the color is not natural. I sold the necklace once, and even though I mentioned that I thought that it might be howlite instead of turquoise, the buyer returned it because it was howlite, not turquoise, LOL
it's a real headache because even if you pay lots of money for the item it doesn't mean it's real Even if we ask the question is it real stone we might not get the truth because the seller think of the money first So thank you for your informations
I have a small silver pin (brooch) with a piece (maybe 3/4” by 1/2”) of what appears to be turquoise that my mother bought in New Mexico around 1951. I wonder how common “false” turquoise was back then?
some really old silver concha etc are fake because the turquoise mines were closed and the stone was really hard to get. MANY old pieces are glass/plastic block turquoise--even signed pieces.
But here's the thing, I can buy a piece because I like it, sure...but the healing qualities of this or that stone won't be there if it's just plastic or glass. Often we buy for a reason other than "looks". I can see you're in AZ, by any chance are you close to Flag? I'd be honored if you could shed some light on my necklace.
So, is there any kind of test you can do to satisfy yourself that you are buying natural turquoise vs. the fake dyed stuff...?? If we have to depend on the seller's honesty, I am skeptical (e.g. 60 Minutes documentary on the plastic turquoise sold on the plaza in Santa Fe, NM).
I have a necklas kinda like the ones you are saying is fake. I'm new to this. How can I tell if this necklaces is real or fake or like you said. How can I tell if these are natural stones?
i recently bought some ,it just disnt feel real i think its howkite it kooks just like the ones in this video, it said qenuine turquoise in the description, bought from amazon
Love it thank you we have this conversation every day at my gallery. Looks like turquoise is not our standard turquoise is a gem not a color, so I am always learning after 32 years still and I appreciate your rap about these issues. Please keep it up brother. daniel @Lonetreeantiques and fine art in Colorado.
* He did Not Emphasize * NATURAL * That is the LEGAL Magic Word.. NATURAL . . Ask if the Stone is NATURAL . . The word "Real" means the COLOR is Blue.. So they can tell you Plastic is Real if it is BLUE..
Too much junk on the market. It's like buying a diamond ring only to find out that the diamond is only worth less than a 10th of the price it was purchased for. Too many jewelers/silversmiths have flooded the market with cheap chit. Now people expect to buy rings for less than $20 bucks with real turquoise or not. And if the ring is re-sold to a place that buys jewelry, the only value you will receive is the spot metal price of the metal that day. I don't don't even buy jewelry anymore.
Thank you very much , I'm 70 years old and have loved turquoise for years, it's a beautiful stone. Appreciate the information.
Very informative. My wife just purchased a neclace online.
We didn't know it wasn't real turquoise, but with your information we now know that all that's "turquoise" ain't.
That's the best explanation of Turquoise l've ever heard.
Years ago, my mom got my stepfather a rock tumbler for Christmas. We lived in New Mexico and during various hiking/pack lunch days, we'd find a variety of stones. At a museum in Lincoln, I noticed arrow heads on display, many looking nothing like the arrowheads you'd see near the cash register. I had suspicions they weren't real as the majority were cut perfectly, die cut.
My stepfather upgraded and then began teaching himself the silver smith craft. We'd go to a "rock hound" shop where he'd choose stones. [He found an agate during a camping trip and became obsessed!] A 'geode' split in half can bring you awe inspiring wonderment with the 'jewel' you find inside. He made a squash blossom necklace using natural turquoise. Another fashioned as a "choker" with just the right size of stones. The silver beads between each of the stones are difficult to clean. The squash blossom is trying as well but you have to take your time.
Thank you for your insight!
No don't ask if it's natural, they are getting around that question now. I have talked to quite a few dealers that are selling stabilized turquoise and they call it natural. You ask them why are you calling your stabilized turquoise natural? They will say, because it's still the actual turquoise stone that had been mined out but had to be stabilized because it was a lower grade or too soft of a stone. Yes most turquoise is too soft or still not the best quality for hardness, and a untreated turquoise could even change a green in color when you wear it becsuse the oils from your skin could absorb into the stone causing it to change in color if the quality was still poor. A good quality untreated turquoise (hard turquoise) will not need any treatments and keep its color and shine. When shopping for turquoise ask if the turquoise is untreated, an honest dealer should give you a honest answer. And look at the description of the turquoise you are wanting to purchase, hope it will tell you if it's stabilized ( but not all will) don't be afraid to ask your dealer the questions. I also would not purchase from turquoise listed as genuine turquoise unless maybe it has a decription of untreated, I see alot listed as that, and it is alot of the time that cheap block turquoise or Howlite died to look like turquoise. Also I am not sure what this gallery grade turquoise means either, sounds like a fancy way of lableing their stabilized turquoise without letting the buyer actually know it's stabilized. Just make sure you ask the question....Has this turquoise been treated at all? Hopefully this will help you be more likely to get a good quality untreated turquoise and less likely to get something else. One of the best places to purchase your turquoise is directly from the miners, then you know what mine it came from and they would be able to let you know if the turquoise has been treated or not. But if you are interested in the stabilized than that's fine to, then you can ignore most of this comment.
Louisa: Then all those shopping channels like QVC, Shop LC, JTV, Evine (HSN) are selling fake stones? It's the Zachery treatment approve by the gem industry?
Louisa: What about the Etsy , a channel that you buy gems?
ty
As if the dealer would give you an honest reply and tell you his collection is fake or treated or zaccarised. They even has raised the price of the fake so high to make you believe its authentic like pristine rock from mine. They have started laquering the stone so good luck on the colour test.
Authentic store will agree to take back with full refund if you take the stone in any lab and get it tested - and it comes out fake. Or buy them from a reputed artist.
Thank you.. we live in Arizona....and went to a turquoise processing..store/shop...and we didnt buy anything because we wanted authentic stone...and our confidence in the product just wasnt there. This helps understand all that might be out there.
More proper question to ask... "is this a natural, untreated stone"?
Maria good question by what i have read they have to stabilised it because it a porous stone????? I have to look what stabilised mean Good luck
Ps i have watch 2 videos from a woman who works at the Museum of Native Americans Art and she explains that some of the items she shows date from hundreds years old and they are not all real but for the Native what was important is the blue color
1 is called Turquoise real or fake
2 is called color and meaning
I did find quite interesting It shows that the blue was important
It,s the interest for turquoise by white people that has developed "fake or real" and of course the prices
Great examples of a few different stones that imitate turquoise.
Is there a way we can tell genuine turquoise when buying second hand? What do you look for?
NIce video and loved seeing the plastic samples at the beginning. Anyone know if the 'plastic samples' still contained ground up powder of turquoise stones? or did they use zero turquoise components, and only use dye/paint. thanks.
It always amazes me the cultural differences between natives and those of European ancestry regarding turquoise.
Amerinds care mostly about the color, so whether plastic or stone, turquoise is turquoise. However Mexicans and Americans tend to care far more about whether it's a gemstone formed naturally.
Hi :) Thank you for your video,, where would I get natural turquoise from,, beads etc?
What is the purple stone an imitation of ?
what if you cut it open? will we see the real color of the stone? or will the dye seep inside the stone?
Zoella Zolendz my Facebook I'd rana kashi stone pic
I have coral spine necklace can't be sold even more. Fabulous. I wish you could tell me if my dead mom's very old huge chunk turquoise ear rings are real.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Nice! I was looking for a turquoise ring for my sister for Christmas.. Stumbled across this you tube video. Bought a ring from your site! Thanks! (Word of advice... add the URL to your website to your video descriptions)
Turquoise chips is really cheap, so there is no need to dye it, dying will be more expensive then stone itself.
I’m very particular about the turquoise color I wear/buy
I don't mind fake turquoise or any fake gemstone as long as the price reflects it.
they look like natural turquoise. its hard to tell from the ones that you showed us in the video. nice video!
Is the Zachary processed used on real turquoise ?
I thought it was an awesome explanation. If the material is a natural rock of Any kind, it's real. That doesn't mean it's "natural" turquoise. So, like the man says, your question is, "Is this natural turquoise?" Since the vast amount of blue or blue-d rock out there is not natural turquoise, I'd assume it's not natural when buying from a roadside stand or garage sale. If I thought otherwise, I'd pay to have it appraised. Simple.
Now I know how to ask. Do you have a natural turquois?
Thanks for sharing very informative 👍
Interesting video now i have to let wifey know what to ask for when looking for turquoise stones
I saw your website. And even the turquoise "stonettes" so tiny that is not even noticeable are expensive.
Hi this is a great video thank you for sharing, but the last larger stand that you show surrounding the white piece of howlite, you are referring to as howlite strand, and that is wrong and misleading, that is a stabilized turquoise, not howlite. I am also a turquoise dealer, I'm sure it's just an oversight between the video editing team and you... and wasn't intentional, but it would help solve consumer confusion, again great video! Thank you.
Can you advise the Federal law that you speak of that requires the reseller to truthfully tell you if your buying natural stone?
I sell on ebay, and I am always at a loss to figure out if something is natural turquoise or not...sometimes I figure it out, like Howlite, for example really does look too uniform--I had a heishi necklace with cut shell and what I thought was turquoise chunks, but my gut told me it wasn't right, and indeed it was howlite--is it alright to use the term "stabilized" turquoise to indicate a bead that isn't natural?
How did you find out it was howlite? I have a necklace & I can't tell if it's real. They're uneven chunks & there's webbing.
The webbing on howlite is too pronounced and uniform--looking closely you can tell that the color is not natural. I sold the necklace once, and even though I mentioned that I thought that it might be howlite instead of turquoise, the buyer returned it because it was howlite, not turquoise, LOL
+Debbie Hostetter buy some howelite. That's a sure bet, betty
Thank you so much Sir Informative video 👍👌👍👌👍👌👍👌🙏🇮🇳🙂India
Great video
We had a silversmith tell us Block turquoise is real. I didn't believe him a bit.
Can you make a turquoise angel wing?
it's a real headache because even if you pay lots of money for the item it doesn't mean it's real
Even if we ask the question is it real stone we might not get the truth because the seller think of the money first So thank you for your informations
I have a small silver pin (brooch) with a piece (maybe 3/4” by 1/2”) of what appears to be turquoise that my mother bought in New Mexico around 1951. I wonder how common “false” turquoise was back then?
They've had fake turquoise for hundreds of years. In ancient times, they painted wood pieces with blue colored malachite, and it looks like turquoise!
some really old silver concha etc are fake because the turquoise mines were closed and the stone was really hard to get. MANY old pieces are glass/plastic block turquoise--even signed pieces.
Some of the glass turquoise is now collectible.
I have tons of turquoise. I get only from licensed buyer who only buys from reservation artists.
Too many scammers around.
But here's the thing, I can buy a piece because I like it, sure...but the healing qualities of this or that stone won't be there if it's just plastic or glass. Often we buy for a reason other than "looks". I can see you're in AZ, by any chance are you close to Flag? I'd be honored if you could shed some light on my necklace.
Correct!! I purchase stones for their metaphysical properties......
can you tell if it is fake or real turquoise, from a picture?...........
not usually. Can you tell a woman had sexual reassignment surgery? probably not
Welp. My necklace is howlite then. I was pretty sure it wasn’t natural so, I’m not really surprised....
What is the intro song to turquoise skies
It's Darrude, Sandstorm
So, is there any kind of test you can do to satisfy yourself that you are buying natural turquoise vs. the fake dyed stuff...?? If we have to depend on the seller's honesty, I am skeptical (e.g. 60 Minutes documentary on the plastic turquoise sold on the plaza in Santa Fe, NM).
I have a necklas kinda like the ones you are saying is fake. I'm new to this. How can I tell if this necklaces is real or fake or like you said. How can I tell if these are natural stones?
i recently bought some ,it just disnt feel real i think its howkite it kooks just like the ones in this video, it said qenuine turquoise in the description, bought from amazon
Love it thank you we have this conversation every day at my gallery. Looks like turquoise is not our standard turquoise is a gem not a color, so I am always learning after 32 years still and I appreciate your rap about these issues. Please keep it up brother. daniel @Lonetreeantiques and fine art in Colorado.
LIKE CREATOR IS TELLING YOU,
FEEL IT FROM YOUR ❤
IFit doesn't resonate, likely it will be FAKE.
Thank you!
* He did Not Emphasize * NATURAL * That is the LEGAL Magic Word.. NATURAL . . Ask if the Stone is NATURAL . . The word "Real" means the COLOR is Blue.. So they can tell you Plastic is Real if it is BLUE..
Ty had my suspicions now I know for sure.
excellent thanks
A shocking title
Too much junk on the market.
It's like buying a diamond ring only to find out that the diamond is only worth less than a 10th of the price it was purchased for. Too many jewelers/silversmiths have flooded the market with cheap chit. Now people expect to buy rings for less than $20 bucks with real turquoise or not. And if the ring is re-sold to a place that buys jewelry, the only value you will receive is the spot metal price of the metal that day. I don't don't even buy jewelry anymore.
ridiculous
this man you not to buy with theft man any more
this man have on your hand turquoise theft stole you return to me
p Q,
No one understands you.
P Q:
Over there, that pig
pen, there...I found me a couple of Shoeshone arrowheads. -Lyle
you need return to the police I go pick it up