How Do You Identify Real Turquoise? The Complete Buyer’s Guide

Since the dawn of time, the real turquoise stone's wonderfulblue-green color and its deep spiritual meaning have amazed people. The common feature in these different cultures and periods has been the respect and veneration they all gave to the turquoise stone as the highest source of beauty, power, and spirituality. The mysteries of ancient Egypt, and the sacred rituals of the American Indians-niavajo and Hopi- these and many more are the examples of the past how turquoise has been the people’s first choice for its unique beauty, spiritual worth, and healing qualities.

The Rich Tapestry of Turquoise History

Turquoise history is so marvelously informative and extends over 7,000 years, that it may be referred to as the earliest known gemstone of mankind. One finds in the archaeology that in the Sinai Peninsula is where in about 5000 BCE, turquoise were mined by the ancient Egyptians and were used to make the bells and other precious articles for pharaohs or ceremonies.

Persian turquoise was so highly regarded in ancient Persia, that it was believed that the one donning the stone was the least likely to die naturally. Persian mounters decorated their palaces, arms, and shrines by turquoise and in this way, the stone became a symbol of the great and of divine protection. The best Persian turquoise set the standard for all the rest of the varieties of turquoise.

Opposite the Atlantic Ocean, Native American tribes established their personal deep association with turquoise. Pueblo, Navajo, and Zuni peoples recognized it as a sacred connection among the earth, the sky and the water and so it was used in religious ceremonies and as a source of healing, and in the making of traditional jewelry. They have been the most skilful of craftsmen in the area of turquoise and have passed these skills from one generation to another.

The level of turquoise was above that of gold with the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican civilizations and it was used to make intricate mosaics, and ceremonial masks besides religious objects. When Spanish conquistadors came to study the situation, they found not only whole rooms decorated with turquoise inlaid but also the organization of the Aztec palace with this material amazed them.

If Considerations for the Turquoise Meaning

The turquoise meaning or the concept is not simple and easy, since it includes different aspects of human spirituality and emotional life, of which some show a connection to different cultures as well. Turquoise is the symbol of a protective shield, the knowledge of the heart, as well as a link to the divine and so was the most precious of gems.

Symbol of Protection: In ancient times, warriors used to carry turquoise charms with them when they went to battle, since they thought that the stone would protect them against being harmed in any way. Even nowadays, the people who keep the same belief are wearing them because they say the stone acts as a shield against emotional, spiritual, and environmental foes.

Wisdom and Communication: Turquoise in ancient cultures was closely linked with divine wisdom and truthful communication. Along with the throat chakra, turquoise makes an individual more truthful and more compassionate in his/her speech.

Healing and Renewal: In the past, health practitioners used turquoise as a tool to achieve complete bodily health, emotional stability, and spiritual growth. According to a lot of people, it is very efficient in helping individuals to break free from heavy past experiences and also to welcome positive change besides that.

Friendship and Love: Turquoise is likewise a symbol of perpetual friendship and real love. Offering turquoise is, in reality, the ultimate demonstration of love, care, and loyalty.

Connection to Nature: Because the stone’s colors reflect both the sky and the earth, it is the symbol of the coming together of the two worlds, that of ground and that of the heavens, thus, it is a very effective instrument in meditation and other spiritual practices.

Identifying Real Turquoise Stone

As the market becomes more and more flooded with synthetic and artificially treated materials, picking out a genuine real turquoise stone makes it necessary to first look closely and secondly, to know what to look for. Real turquoise is not only quite unique in character and quality but it also has a number of distinguishing features that separate it from the rest of the fakes.

Natural Matrix Patterns: Typical turquoise will often come with host rock inclusions that can be the cause of the one-of-a-kind and irregular veining patterns. These matrix lines show organic and random forms, in contrast to those found in synthetic materials that have a uniform pattern.

Color Variations: Real turquoise displays natural color transitions and hints within individual samples. If you still want to buy a stone, then pick the one that is most likely natural or at least only chemically treated, i.e. it should not have a perfectly uniform or vibrant color of your liking.

Texture and Luster: The original turquoise has a shiny to almost glassy look with a characteristic cool feeling when touched. Even with its natural flaws and minor irregularities, the surface should still be able to tell that the formation is real.

Density and Weight: As a result of its mineral content, real turquoise is quite heavy for its size. A light weight specimen might be of synthetic material or of a heavily stabilized stone with extra fillers added.

Hardness Properties: Natural turquoise falls within the range of 5-6 on the Mohs hardness scale, meaning that it is relatively soft and still used as a jewelry item when treated carefully.

Choosing Top Quality Turquoise

Looking for the best turquoise stone should take into account various aspects such as origin, quality, purpose, and your feeling toward it. The highest quality pieces are mostly located in the areas that have been well documented.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise that comes from the state of Arizona is one of the most popular varieties of turquoise and is known for its pure blue color and a very minor amount of matrix. Still, the few remaining specimens from the mine that closed in 2012 continue to get more and more valuable.

Persian Turquoise is still the original model of excellence with it that shows an intense clear blue color with very few inclusions and overall good transparency.

Kingman Turquoise stands out visually due to the beautiful light blue color which is further enhanced with the presence of dramatic dark matrix webbing.

Royston Turquoise encompasses the green-to-blue beautiful color transitions with the most distinctive golden matrix patterns.

Investment and Collecting

Top-quality turquoise specimens offer both visual pleasure and the possibility of turning into a good investment. While looking through gemstones for sale, the things that one needs to pay attention to the most are the things that are talked about in this article: authenticity, quality, and historical importance.

The major value of elements includes:

Origin and reputation of the mine

Intensity and consistence of color

Most attractive of the pattern matrix

Size and rareness

Degree of treatment and stability

Significance in history or the culturally

Turquoise Care Tips

If taken care of properly, turquoise will not lose its beauty and worth as well:

Keep the turquoise piece away from direct sunlight in order to prevent it from losing its original color.
Do not allow the piece to come in contact with beauty products, cleaning agents, and oils.
Clean the piece with a soft, dry cloth gently.
If your stones are too fragile, get them stabilized professionally.
Make sure that the temperature and the level of humidity are always compatible.

Conclusion

A real turquoise stone has not lost the charm that it had in ancient times with people who collect it and with those who use it for spiritual purposes. Knowing its rich turquoise history and deep turquoise meaning makes one's feeling and understanding of these incredible gems more profound.

Moreover, authentic specimens of turquoise offer timeless beauty, cultural and spiritual value, and potential investment if you are looking for the best turquoise stone for making jewelry, or spiritual practices, or for collection. Knowledge and careful choice will make turquoise the closest connection to the common root of all human spirituality and will still be reflecting humanity's shared spiritual heritage.