How to Identify Turquoise Jewelry

Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones. Highly valued, people use turquoise stone in art, religion, trading and jewelry. Turquoise is mined in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. Determining real turquoise jewelry from fake can be difficult--price and coloring are not always accurate indicators. In addition to locating a qualified jewelry dealer, there are ways to determine turquoise authenticity.

Things You'll Need

• Hydrochloric acid
• Straight pin

Instructions

1. When shopping for turquoise jewelry, look for a seller with a good reputation for selling quality jewelry, or one that specializes in turquoise. Do research on the store or seller before you buy to make sure they are reputable.

2. Find out if the turquoise is stabilized or natural. Most turquoise jewelry has undergone color stabilization. This process will dye a pale turquoise stone into a brightly colored stone. It also makes it stronger. Stones stabilized with epoxy will reveal tiny globules of epoxy when examined with a magnifying glass. This does not mean that the stone is a fake, but it has been altered.

3. Determine whether the stone is artificial or real. To find out if it is dyed howlite (a mineral similar in appearance to turquoise), pick a spot on the stone. Choose a spot that is not in a conspicuous area. Place a tiny drop of hydrochloric acid on the stone. The turquoise is fake if it has an effervescent reaction--the formation of tiny gas bubbles. It may produce foam or give off a hissing sound.

4. To detect if the turquoise jewelry is plastic, apply heat to a small straight pin. Touch the hot pin to an inconspicuous place on the turquoise. If the stone melts, or if you smell an artificial odor, it is a plastic replica.

5. Buying turquoise in bead form makes it easier to distinguish between real and fake just by looking inside the hole of the bead itself. If the hole is white, it is a fake.

6. Ask for a certificate of authenticity. A reputable dealer will not hesitate to provide you with one.

Tips & Warnings

• Hydrochloric acid is a highly corrosive, strong mineral acid. Use with extreme caution.

References

• "Turquoise Jewelry"
• "Turquoise Treatments"
• "Real Vs Fake Turquoise"