You are shopping for gemstones. Hmm, how about some turquoise?

Your search leads you to many types of turquoise: Sleeping Beauty, African, Chinese, Viennese, Howlite, and Purple. What to choose?

Time for some serious research. And what you will find can be a little confusing.

• African turquoise is really a jasper, so don't be fooled into paying turquoise prices.
• Natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise is very expensive. And the prices are justified. This is some of the highest grade natural turquoise, mined in Globe, Arizona. The robin's egg blue color is unmistakable.
• Chinese turqoise is real, but sometimes dyed or otherwise enhanced. It comes in several colors: green, blue, spider web, yellow and bright blue.
• Viennese turquoise is a fake. Stick to Vienna pastries, but not turquoise.
• Howlite is a borate mineral dyed to look like turquoise.
• Purple turquoise is Arizona turquoise that has been dyed and eradiated.

The bottom line is to know your vendor. Reputable gemstone dealers will provide information on their website and be willing to answer your questions regarding the origin on the stones they are selling. If the description is scant, such as “turquoise beads for sale,” I would move on. If you are buying in a bead store, ask plenty of questions.

If you are selling your jewelry, you need to be able to inform your customers about the items they are buying. A knowledgeable seller will be 10 times more successful than someone who knows nothing about the materials they are using. Study gemstone handbooks, use online lapidary journals and look at lots of pictures. If you have the opportunity to handle the stones, get familiar with the feel, weight, color, and texture of the stones.  The old “knowledge is power” saying is very true.