How We Test Our Turquoise
4 Ways To Know if Turquoise is Real or Fake
Testing is a skill. Some pieces of turquoise you can tell right when you pick them up. Others require a more scientific approach.
Keep Reading To See The Four Ways To Test Turquoise:
Visual Test
This is the first and easiest way to test turquoise.
It may look “real,” and sometimes the fake stuff looks just as good as the real thing. When looking at real turquoise, the color can be more uniform, like Sleeping Beauty turquoise, or it can have more tones, like green Kingman turquoise.
The thing to look for is how the color changes. In real turquoise, the color change happens abruptly. It almost seems blotchy. It isn’t a smooth transition from one shade to the next.
You also want to look for color tone. The color should be similar. If you have a blue stone on one side and white on the other, this may indicate fake turquoise, or further testing is needed.
The matrix is the vein or other material visible in the turquoise. Some turquoise has a deeply defined matrix, while some has hardly any. It is rare to find turquoise with little to no matrix, which is why those stones are considered more valuable.
Matrix can be black, grey, or different shades of brown. Matrix will also vary in intensity. If the matrix looks too uniform or if the patterns of the matrix repeat, that may be a sign the turquoise is fake.
Failing any of these tests doesn’t automatically mean the stone is fake.
Acetone Test
This test uses the powerful chemicals in acetone or paint thinner. This test may be the fastest way to tell, but you probably won’t be able to do this test if you are browsing a piece in a shop.
Just like paint, dyed turquoise will show its true color when introduced to paint thinner.
Some say you can tell with acetone fingernail polish remover, but in some cases, those chemicals are not strong enough to break down the dye.
Using paint thinner, apply some to an inconspicuous spot on the turquoise in question with a cotton swab or cotton ball.
Then, rub vigorously. If the turquoise is dyed, the cotton will show a tint of blue or green. Be careful, as this may ruin the piece if it is indeed fake turquoise.
That’s why you should do it in an inconspicuous area if you do it at all.
Dyed howlite and magnesite are favorites of imposters, and this test will reveal their true colors. These stones are naturally white but have a similar matrix to turquoise. The white dyes easily, and the matrix gets darker. A dark matrix is a good indicator of dyed stone but isn’t always accurate.
Heat Test
Some fake turquoise is plastic. It will pass the acetone test in many cases. It can also feel and look real. There is a turquoise called “block” or “composite.” This is made from turquoise scraps that are ground down and pressed together. Although chemically it is technically turquoise, it doesn’t feel like turquoise and can easily be mistaken for plastic.
To test with heat, a lighter and a heavy-gauge safety pin will be needed. Find an inconspicuous area of the stone in question. Heat the safety pin until it’s red hot. This shouldn’t take long.
Take care not to overheat, as the heat will travel through the safety pin and burn your fingers.
Once the tip of the safety pin is red hot, apply it to the inconspicuous area. If the turquoise is plastic, you will see the plastic melt and a pinhole start to form. Real turquoise doesn’t melt.
Stress/Scratch Test
Real turquoise is brittle, which is why the standard for turquoise is high-quality stabilized turquoise. Dyed howlite and magnesite will be white under the surface.
The problem with this method is that all the stones will scratch.
So, if you are performing this test, find an inconspicuous area to test. Basically, what you’re looking for is whether the turquoise is white below the surface. You shouldn’t have to scratch too deeply before you see white.
But the piece will be permanently damaged.
If you can’t tell and, say, you are testing an entire bag of turquoise beads, you can get a hammer and smash one completely. Real turquoise will have the color all the way through. Dyed howlite and magnesite will be white.
It's About The Color... The Deeper Meaning...
To our Diné, it is the color and what it represents that is most important. If you have an old piece of jewelry and you aren't quite sure if it is real... you can do these same tests. If you love the piece and what the color represents, then maybe you don't even care.And that's okay too.