F.A.Q.

put lots of turquoise on the bear

I'm often asked, "How do I know if my turquoise is real?" 

Here on my frequently asked questions page,
 I will do my best to share helpful answers.

Please feel free to contact me here with any questions.

I may use your question[s] on my page. 
How do I know if my turquoise is real? 
1]   I always start by visually looking at the color.
       Real turquoise has natural variations; blues, greens, or a mix.
          Fake often looks too perfect or like plastic. I just recently explained to a customer that faux turquoise can resemble swirls instead of a natural matrix. 
2]   Check the matrix (dark web-like lines) 
        Real stones have irregular, uneven matrix lines.
            Fake ones maybe painted, uniform or repeating patterns.
       They will look too perfect!
3)  Do the scratch test or hot needle test. These techniques are a little antiquated but can work.
          Real turquoise is hard and won't scratch easily. 
               A hot needle will likely melt plastic or resin.
( Be careful..hot needles are             hot further up than you may realize. Use a pair of pliers if you can.)
4)  Feel the weight and temperature.
        Real turquoise feels cool and heavier than plastics. 
              Fake feels light.
 ( This is more when testing a raw stone.)
5)  Price and source. 
        Genuine turquoise is rarely cheap.
         If it seems too good to be real, it's probally fake! 
        *** A reputable seller won't  mind you getting a second opinion. Don't hesitate to ask! 
         Quality turquoise is a piece of art that should last for generations. When buying turquoise, think of it as an investment!

6) Can I shower with my stones? No. Never. Vintage turquoise most likely will have saw dust. They would put saw dust under the stones to help cushion the turquoise. Saw dust also helped to level out a uncut raw stone. They may have had a natural stone and if the bottom was uneven. In order to help the stone sit better, the dust would help level it out. If you get that saw dust wet, the wood shavings (dust) would expand, pushing the stone out!