Gemstone Encyclopedia / Turquoise
Unlike transparent gemstones such as sapphire or zircon, turquoise is opaque. Its value is not driven by brilliance or light return, but by color, texture, and the presence or absence of matrix.
Overview
Today, the majority of turquoise available is treated in some way.
Turquoise is one of the oldest known gemstones, used in jewelry and ornamentation for thousands of years across cultures ranging from ancient Egypt to Native American tribes of the American Southwest. Despite its long history, it is also one of the most misunderstood gemstones in the modern market.
Unlike transparent gemstones such as sapphire or zircon, turquoise is opaque. Its value is not driven by brilliance or light return, but by color, texture, and the presence or absence of matrix. These factors are far more nuanced than most buyers realize, and they are heavily influenced by origin and treatment.
Today, the majority of turquoise available is treated in some way. Understanding the difference between natural, stabilized, and imitation material is essential if you want to accurately evaluate the stone.
Turquoise forms in arid environments where copper-rich groundwater interacts with aluminum and phosphorus-bearing minerals. Over time, this process creates deposits within fractures and cavities in the host rock.
This formation environment explains several defining characteristics of turquoise. Its color is directly tied to copper content, while trace elements such as iron can shift the tone toward green. Because it forms in veins and irregular pockets, turquoise rarely appears as large, uniform masses. Instead, it is often interwoven with the surrounding rock, creating what is known as matrix.
Unlike gemstones formed under high heat and pressure deep within the Earth, turquoise develops relatively close to the surface. This contributes to its lower hardness and its tendency to be more porous.
Colors
Turquoise runs from clean sky blue to earthy green, all within the same mineral - it's one color family, not separate types. Drag the bar or pick a shade to compare.
A bright, even blue with little to no green influence - the shade most strongly associated with the now-closed Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona.
An intense, slightly deeper blue with low matrix, historically mined in Iran and valued for centuries as the benchmark for fine turquoise.
Iron content pulls a blue-dominant stone toward green while it stays recognizably blue - common, and appreciated rather than discounted in many markets.
A genuinely balanced stone, neither blue nor green dominant - common in American material, which covers a wider color range than Persian turquoise.
A genuinely green body color from the highest iron content in the series - still turquoise, not a different mineral, and increasingly embraced rather than treated as a lesser shade.
Colors shown are illustrations. Real stones vary enormously with origin, matrix, and individual stone quality. Every turquoise has a hardness of 5 to 6.
Properties
Mohs measures scratch resistance, from talc (1) to diamond (10).
Turquoise is relatively soft compared to most gemstones used in jewelry, typically ranging from 5 to 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. It is also porous, which means it can absorb oils, moisture, and chemicals over time. This makes care especially important.
Exposure to lotions, perfumes, and even natural skin oils can gradually alter the appearance of the stone. Stabilized turquoise is more resistant to these effects, which is one reason it is widely used in modern jewelry. Natural turquoise, while more valuable, requires more careful handling.
This is where most of the confusion in the turquoise market exists. Natural, stabilized, and imitation material can look similar at a glance, but they are very different stones with very different value.
The 4Cs
Turquoise has no brilliance to fall back on, so color and matrix carry almost all of its value - open each of the four Cs to see how they fit together.
Color is the single most important factor in determining the value of turquoise, and it is also the most debated.
The most sought-after turquoise is often described as "robin's egg blue," a bright, even blue with little to no green influence. This color is strongly associated with the now-closed Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona, which produced some of the most consistent and clean turquoise ever brought to market.
However, not all high-quality turquoise is pure blue. Some stones display a greenish tone due to higher iron content, and in certain markets, particularly in the American Southwest, these variations are appreciated rather than discounted. What matters most is consistency: fine turquoise should display even color across the surface without blotchiness or dull areas.
Matrix refers to the remnants of the host rock that remain within the turquoise, showing up as veins, webbing, or patches of contrasting material.
In some cases, matrix is considered undesirable, particularly in markets that favor clean, uninterrupted blue stones. In other cases, especially with spiderweb matrix, it becomes a defining feature that adds uniqueness and value.
There is no universal rule that matrix is better or worse than a clean stone - what matters is presentation. Fine matrix should be well-defined, evenly distributed, and visually integrated into the stone, rather than looking chaotic or murky.
See how blue and green turquoise compare side by side in the Colors section above.
Turquoise does not have inclusions in the way a faceted gem does - what matters instead is surface quality and texture. The finest material has a smooth, dense, waxy-to-glassy surface with no visible pores or chalky patches.
Porous, chalky turquoise absorbs oils and polish unevenly, and it is typically the material that gets stabilized before it ever reaches a cutter. A dense, low-porosity stone needs less intervention to begin with, and is valued accordingly.
Like opal, turquoise is cut as a smooth cabochon rather than faceted, since there is no brilliance to angle for in an opaque stone. A skilled cutter orients the rough to show the most even color and the most attractive matrix pattern face-up, then polishes a domed, symmetrical cabochon with a well-fitted base.
Freeform shapes are common too, especially for stones with striking or irregular matrix that a symmetrical cut would otherwise have to cut away - letting the stone's natural character drive the final shape rather than forcing it into a standard outline.
Size plays a role in turquoise's value, as larger pieces of high-quality turquoise are increasingly difficult to find. Because turquoise forms in veins and irregular pockets rather than large, uniform masses, a big stone with even color and little unwanted matrix is genuinely scarce - size alone can set a fine stone apart.
Origins & Value
Origin plays a more significant role in turquoise than in many other gemstones because different mines produce distinctly different material.
Origin
American turquoise, particularly from Arizona and Nevada, is known for a wide range of colors and matrix patterns. The Sleeping Beauty mine produced some of the most sought-after pure blue turquoise before its closure.
Origin
Persian turquoise from Iran has historically been prized for its intense blue color and relatively low matrix content. This material has been valued for centuries and remains highly regarded.
Origin
Not covered in the original article, but worth knowing: China, particularly Hubei province, has become the world's largest producer of turquoise by volume today, supplying everything from fine blue material to heavily matrixed stone used in beads and carvings.
The value of turquoise is determined by a combination of factors, with color being the most important. Strong, even blue stones with minimal imperfections are the most sought after.
Natural, untreated turquoise commands a premium due to its rarity. Stones with distinctive and aesthetically pleasing matrix patterns can also be highly valuable, particularly when the pattern is consistent and well-defined.
Size plays a role as well, as larger pieces of high-quality turquoise are increasingly difficult to find.
Care
With a hardness of 5 to 6, Fair-to-Good toughness, and real porosity, turquoise asks for a bit more thought than most gemstones before it goes into daily rotation.
Warm, soapy water and a soft cloth is the safest way to clean turquoise. Rinse and pat dry.
Both can damage turquoise, especially stabilized or treated stones. Have it cleaned by a jeweler instead.
Lotion, perfume, hairspray, and even natural skin oils can gradually discolor turquoise over time - apply those first, then your jewelry.
High heat can discolor or damage the surface, and turquoise dissolves slowly in acid, so keep it clear of household chemicals.
Untreated natural turquoise is more porous than stabilized material and benefits from the most careful handling of all.
At 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, turquoise can be scratched by harder stones and metals - give it its own pouch or compartment.
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At Forever Rox Fine Jewelry, we focus on turquoise that reflects both quality and authenticity. Whether clean blue stones or pieces with strong natural matrix, the goal is to offer material that holds its character and visual integrity over time.
FAQ
Natural, untreated turquoise with strong, even blue color is typically the most valuable.
Yes, it is natural turquoise that has been treated to improve durability.
Higher iron content or exposure to oils and environmental factors can shift the color.
Historically Iran and the American Southwest, particularly Arizona and Nevada.
It can be, but it requires more care than harder gemstones.
Natural turquoise typically shows variation in color and matrix, while imitations often appear too uniform.
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