How to Identify Sterling Turquoise Jewelry

Real turquoise should have natural nicks and flaws.

Turquoise is a beautiful, blue-green mineral that is formed when water works its way through aluminum and copper, forming an acid deposit. Turquoise gets its blue color from copper as the water seeps through the deposits, and its green color from aluminum and iron. Of course, just because a stone is blue-green does not mean it is a turquoise. When trying to determine if such a stone in a piece of silver jewelry is in fact a turquoise, evaluate it carefully and perhaps even get it inspected by a professional, to be sure.

Things You'll Need

• 10X magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe
• Needle or pin
• Matches or lighter

Instructions

1. Inspect the inside or underside of the silver. Use your loupe or magnifying glass to look closely. In a discreet place, the purity of the silver will be engraved into the metal. Sterling silver will have a .925 or 92.5 percent stamped inside. This should be located on the inside of the band, or on the underside of a pendant, bracelet or earring.

2. Use the magnifying glass to inspect the stone for working marks. If the jeweler claims that the piece is handmade, there should be marks made by the tools on the turquoise, such as chisel marks. If the piece is supposedly antique, there should be signs of wear from where the turquoise has rubbed against the setting of the jewelry.

3. Inspect the stone with your magnifying glass, looking for natural lines and nicks that are expected from a stone that was created naturally, under the earth's surface.

4. Analyze the color of the turquoise. Sometimes, if a small piece of turquoise is found, it is filled with an amber-like material, which will give it a bright blue color. Real turquoise should be inconsistent in color, with specks of gold, green and brown.

5. Place a needle over an open flame for several minutes. Place the needle against the turquoise in an inconspicuous place. If the hot needle makes a mark in the turquoise, this means that it is plastic, not real turquoise.

References

• Native Peoples: Turquoise: Sacred Stone
• Gemstone: Turquoise