HOW TO CHOOSE

Wearing a pendant or ring of superior gem-quality untreated Persian turquoise is an elegant luxury. However, such material is sensitive to chemicals and may change color, so strict care is necessary.

Acrylic-impregnated turquoise is accessory quality, but there is little worry of discoloration, and it can be considered less susceptible to chemical damage than untreated material. There are infinite variations in the tone of the blue color and matrix patterns, but as the material is not scarce, this will not influence its value. Because the Mohs hardness is a relatively low 5 to 6, durability is a consideration when wearing turquoise. Also, it is important to beware of imitations as well as synthetics.

The value of a two-gram-size turquoise of jewelry quality is approximately US $130 for the stone alone(2004).