The turquoise jewelry market is plagued by fakes. Reconstituted turquoise, stabilized turquoise, dyed howlite, and outright synthetic imitations are commonly sold as 'genuine Tibetan turquoise' — often even by sellers who do not know the difference. Here is how to protect yourself and your customers.
Types of Turquoise on the Market
Understanding the terminology is the first step. Natural turquoise is mined and cut without any treatment other than shaping and polishing. It is the rarest and most valuable form. Stabilized turquoise has been impregnated with clear resin or plastic to harden the stone and improve its color — this is common and considered acceptable in the trade if disclosed. Reconstituted turquoise (also called 'block turquoise') is made by grinding turquoise dust and mixing it with resin to form a solid block, which is then cut into stones. It is real turquoise material but not a natural stone. Dyed howlite is a white mineral dyed blue to imitate turquoise — a common fake. Synthetic turquoise is lab-created material with a chemical composition similar to natural turquoise.
Where Genuine Tibetan Turquoise Comes From
True Tibetan turquoise is mined from deposits in Tibet (Derge, Chamdo, and Nagchu regions) and the Nepal-Tibet border area. These deposits produce turquoise with a distinctive color range — from sky blue to slightly greenish-blue — and often feature brown matrix (veining from the host rock) that many collectors find attractive. Tibetan turquoise has been traded along Himalayan routes for over 2,000 years and holds deep cultural significance in Tibetan, Nepali, and Sherpa communities. Due to limited mining and increasing demand, genuine Tibetan turquoise commands premium prices.
How to Identify Genuine Turquoise
Visual inspection: Natural turquoise has subtle color variations — it is rarely perfectly uniform in color. The matrix pattern (brown veining) in genuine stone follows organic, irregular patterns. Reconstituted turquoise often has an unnaturally even color and artificial-looking matrix. Dyed howlite may show dye concentration in surface cracks.
Weight test: Genuine turquoise is denser than most imitations. It feels heavier in the hand than dyed howlite or plastic alternatives.
Heat test: Touching a hot needle to an inconspicuous spot — genuine turquoise will not melt or emit a chemical smell. Reconstituted turquoise (resin-bound) may soften or smell of plastic. This test is destructive and should only be used on test samples.
Professional testing: For definitive identification, gemological laboratories use Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and specific gravity measurements. For wholesale buyers, we recommend having representative samples from any new supplier professionally tested.
Price as an Indicator
Price is perhaps the most practical indicator. Genuine natural Tibetan turquoise cabochons cost $5-50+ per carat wholesale depending on color and quality. If someone offers 'genuine Tibetan turquoise' stones at $0.50 per carat, it is almost certainly reconstituted or fake. Stabilized turquoise from Chinese deposits (Hubei province, not Tibet) is typically $1-5 per carat — significantly cheaper than true Tibetan material.
Our Guarantee
All turquoise used in our jewelry is sourced from verified suppliers with whom we have long-standing relationships. We provide authenticity documentation specifying the turquoise type (natural, stabilized, or reconstituted) and origin. For natural Tibetan turquoise pieces, we offer gemological certification on request. We never sell dyed howlite, synthetic, or reconstituted material as genuine turquoise — our reputation depends on trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stabilized turquoise considered fake?
No, stabilized turquoise is real turquoise that has been treated with resin to improve hardness and color stability. It is widely accepted in the jewelry trade and is the most common form of turquoise in commercial jewelry. The key is honest disclosure — customers should know whether they are buying natural or stabilized material. We clearly label all our turquoise jewelry with the treatment type.
Why is Chinese turquoise cheaper than Tibetan turquoise?
China's Hubei province has large, commercially mined turquoise deposits that produce high volumes at lower cost. Tibetan turquoise comes from smaller, more remote deposits with higher extraction costs and lower volumes. Additionally, much Chinese turquoise is stabilized (treated with resin) while premium Tibetan turquoise is sold natural. The color characteristics also differ — connoisseurs can distinguish Tibetan from Chinese turquoise by color and matrix patterns.