So, I got really into turquoise recently. I mean, who doesn’t love that beautiful blue-green color? But then I started wondering, are all turquoise stones the same? Turns out, they’re totally not! I went down a rabbit hole researching this, and here’s what I found out through my little DIY project.
My Turquoise Exploration
First, I gathered some turquoise stones. I had a few pieces already, some jewelry and a couple of loose stones I’d picked up at a gem show ages ago. I have no record to make sure they were genuine or not.
Then I checked some online resources. Boy, was that overwhelming! There are tons of websites and articles about turquoise, and it was hard to know what information was reliable.
To sort things out, I made a list of the different types I kept seeing mentioned. It looked something like this:
- Bisbee
- Lander Blue
- Number 8
- Sleeping Beauty
- And a bunch more!
Next, I tried to match my stones to the descriptions I was finding. This was tough! Some of them looked similar, but the colors and patterns (called the “matrix”) were all a little different.
I realized I needed a better way to organize my thoughts, so I made a simple chart. I listed the types of turquoise down one side and then added columns for things like:
- Color (duh!)
- Matrix (the pattern of the other minerals in the stone)
- Where it’s from (a lot of turquoise is named after the mine it comes from)
- Hardness (some are harder and more durable than others)
I started comparing it.
For example, Sleeping Beauty turquoise is known for its solid, sky-blue color with very little matrix. And Lander Blue is super rare and valuable, with a dark, spiderweb-like matrix.
Filled in my chart as best as I could, using the information and matching them up with the stones I had. Honestly, it was like a puzzle! And I’m still not 100% sure I identified all of mine correctly, but it was a fun learning experience.
I decided to take some photos of my stones, too. It’s one thing to read about the differences, but seeing them side-by-side really helps. Plus, they just look pretty!
So, that’s my turquoise adventure so far! It’s amazing how much variation there is in just one type of stone. I’m definitely going to keep learning, and maybe even add a few more pieces to my collection. Gotta catch ’em all, right?
