Turquoise jewelry ranges from a few dollars to thousands, and the stone is a big reason why. Here is a plain language guide to the main types you will see.
The main types of turquoise
Natural turquoise
Stone that is cut and polished with no treatment. It is the rarest and most expensive, and is usually sold with details about the mine it came from.
Stabilized turquoise
Natural turquoise treated with resin so it is harder and keeps its color. Much of the turquoise in jewelry today is stabilized.
Reconstituted turquoise
Turquoise powder and small fragments bonded with resin and formed into shapes. It is real turquoise material at a lower price.
Turquoise color stone
Other stones, such as howlite or magnesite, dyed to look like turquoise, or synthetic material. This is the most common option in fashion jewelry and gives the classic look at an everyday price.
How to tell the difference
- Price: natural turquoise pieces rarely sell for under $100.
- The listing: honest sellers name the stone type. If a listing just says "turquoise" at a very low price, it is almost certainly a turquoise color stone.
- Color: perfectly even color across many identical beads usually means dyed or synthetic stone.
- A jeweler: for an expensive piece, a professional can test it.
What we use
Most Turquoise Vintage pieces use turquoise color stones, and our product pages say so. If a piece uses natural turquoise, its description will name it. We think you should always know what you are buying.
Quick answers
Is turquoise color stone bad?
No. It is the standard for fashion jewelry and lets you wear the look every day without worrying about an expensive stone.
Does turquoise change color?
Natural turquoise can darken from skin oils, lotion and water over time. Stabilized and color stones change much less.