Turquoise, with its captivating blue-green hues, has been prized for millennia. However, the allure of this gemstone has also led to a significant market for imitations and treatments. Knowing how to identify genuine turquoise is crucial for both buyers and collectors. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of methods to help you distinguish authentic turquoise from its counterfeits.
What are the Different Types of Turquoise Treatments?
Many turquoise stones undergo treatments to enhance their color, hardness, or stability. Understanding these treatments is crucial in evaluating authenticity and quality. Common treatments include:
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Stabilization: This involves filling the porous nature of turquoise with a resin or polymer to improve durability and reduce fragility. While stabilization is a common practice and doesn't necessarily indicate a fake stone, it's essential to disclose it when selling or buying treated turquoise. The extent of stabilization can vary greatly, impacting the stone's overall value.
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Dyeing: Some turquoise is dyed to enhance its color, often making it appear more vibrant or uniform. This practice is considered less desirable than stabilization, as the dye can fade over time.
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Reconstruction: Reconstructed turquoise is made by combining turquoise fragments and binding them with a resin or other material. While technically containing real turquoise, it's usually less expensive and significantly different in quality and value than natural, untreated turquoise.
How Can I Tell if My Turquoise is Real?
Several methods can be employed to help determine the authenticity of turquoise:
1. Examine the Color and Pattern:
Genuine turquoise exhibits a wide variety of colors, ranging from light sky blue to deep greenish-blue. The color is rarely uniform and often features variations in shade and intensity. Look for natural veining, matrix (the rock containing the turquoise), and color variations. Perfectly uniform color is a major red flag.
2. Feel the Stone's Texture:
Genuine turquoise often has a slightly rough or porous texture, particularly untreated stones. It can feel somewhat soft to the touch. Smooth, overly polished stones might be suspect.
3. Check for the Matrix:
Many authentic turquoise pieces contain a matrix – a web-like pattern of other minerals such as iron pyrite, limonite, or calcite. The presence and appearance of this matrix are important identifying characteristics and help distinguish it from imitations.
4. Perform a Streak Test:
Although not always definitive, a streak test can offer some clues. Rub the turquoise against an unglazed porcelain tile. Genuine turquoise usually produces a pale greenish-white streak.
5. Consider the Price:
Be wary of extremely low prices. High-quality, genuine turquoise, especially larger pieces, can be relatively expensive. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
What are Common Imitations of Turquoise?
Several materials are often used to imitate turquoise:
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Howlite: This is a common imposter, often dyed to mimic turquoise. It's much harder than turquoise and often lacks the characteristic matrix.
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Glass: Glass imitations can be convincingly colored, but usually lack the porous texture and natural variations of real turquoise.
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Plastic: Plastic is easily identified by its very low weight and lack of any natural feel.
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Other Stones: Several other minerals, including variscite and chrysocolla, share a similar color and can be mistaken for turquoise.
How Can I Identify Treated Turquoise?
Determining whether turquoise has been treated is more challenging. Sometimes, the only way to know for certain is through advanced gemological testing. However, looking closely at the stone's polish, color uniformity, and texture can give you clues. Overly vibrant or uniformly colored turquoise may indicate dyeing, while excessively hard, polished stones might have undergone extensive stabilization.
Where Can I Get My Turquoise Tested?
For conclusive identification of genuine turquoise, including the type and extent of any treatments, it's best to consult a reputable gemologist or jeweler with expertise in gemstone identification. They can perform tests to determine authenticity and provide a detailed report.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to identify genuine turquoise. Remember, combining several of these methods offers the best chance of accurate identification. If you have any doubts, always seek professional appraisal.
