Turquoise stone - photo

If you already have turquoise jewelry or are just planning to get a sophisticated piece with a bright blue mineral, then you definitely need to know what natural turquoise looks like. And the point is not at all to detect a fake in time, since even this will require more than one hour of time and special equipment. It is still very important to know the main visual signs of a natural gem. At least for general development.

What does natural turquoise look like?

First of all, it is worth knowing that the size of a natural stone is never too large. It is a huge rarity to find a large crystal.

The brilliance of turquoise cannot be too bright. It's more matte and muted. If you are offered a mineral with a perfect reflection, then in most cases you have a fake. Also, it cannot be transparent, even superficially. Natural turquoise is completely opaque and does not even let sunlight through.

Take a close look at the structure of the gem. Characteristic stripes should not have even and perfect lines. Yes, of course, they are a harmonious combination of the color of the stone and the shade of the veins themselves. But usually the stripes do not have saturation in color.

The mineral itself is not only a deep turquoise color. There are white, grayish, yellow and greenish shades.

It is worth noting another quality of natural turquoise, even if it is not entirely visual. The natural gem heats up gradually in the hand. If you squeeze it in a fist, then initially it will remain cool and only after a while it will constantly heat up from the heat of the palms. The fake will immediately heat up. Also, such physical characteristics include the weight of the stone. Synthetic specimens have a slightly lower density, while natural turquoise will feel a little heavier, which is immediately noticeable.

Summing up, we can say the following: natural turquoise does not have a perfect appearance. In any case, it contains small cracks, abrasions that it received in the process of growth. If you have a perfectly colored gem with a unique brilliance and purity of structure, then, unfortunately, you have either a synthetic mineral, or a fake made of glass or plastic. If you doubt the authenticity of the stone, it is better to seek help from specialists.