Hello Nishedha,

I don't recognize either strand to be typical howlite nor magnesite. Howlite typically has a wispy gray matrix. (These are not "synthetics," but are imitations.) Without suggesting they are authentic, I'd say they look OK. It can be very difficult to identify bead materials from a few photos. The dark matrix is a bit unexpected. It's very dark.

Perhaps Danny will take a look and give an opinion.

Good luck. Jamey

Thank you, Jamey,
your comment is not as pesimistic as I was expecting!

PS.-I am thrilled: may be, may be...your trip to Europe will happen in Fall?

If you are around, tell me what you think about these beads!

I just visited with Art on these and feel that they are suspect.The black looks like resin and has air bubbles in it the pure blue one 2 down from the clasp also has one. No way I would pay much for these.
Caveat Emptor
Danny

Hi Danny,
thank you.
Alas!, I am with you and Art, feeling (just feel, for I cannot claim knowledge) they are suspect.
I will do some testing on them; also ask the best of my skills,and post here better, more detailed images-- in the hope that what we are suspecting were only what we feared...

A very hot needle applied to the black surface made two small holes in it (see pic) and a little smoke was produced,smelling like some chemical.But the black surface did not melt, (like for example tar or a similar stuff does).

I said the two strands had been offered to me and it IS true, but I had ALSO purchased them! They came from Slovenia.

As long as you like the beads and are happy with the price then use them in one of your beautiful creations. Danny

For as long as I have doubts about their authenticity, I wouldn't be able to like them, I am such a bum...
Does your response mean that my last post convinced you of them being imitation turquoise?
Do not be afraid of hurting me, I am braced for the worst scenario!

hello , if you want to avoid this , only buy this kind of beads if you can touch them with your fingers and knock on your front teeth , at least . maybe I'm rude but I know the price of a little piece , not even a bead , of authentic turquoise . so two strands of real turquoise for 300 dollars : I am not sure . Sorry

FWIW, I bought strands of turquoise beads from Rings 'n' Things when they did shows in Massachusetts, and a couple of times, they turned out to be dyed howlite or magnesite.

Russ Nobbs was the kind of person who was very careful about his beads and other products. He even visited places to check out the sources of some of his suppliers.

If HE got fooled, then there's no hope for any of us! :-D

Of course, as the fake stuff gets more prevalent, it gets a little easier to spot. I do my best to make sure my purchases are as authentic as I hope, but I cringe at the thought of what testing might reveal!
=8-}

I recently made some rocks out of polymer clay for a huge project I've been working on for a year now. When I posted them, I was surprised how many people thought they were real! And I wasn't even trying to make them look real, I just need rocks of a certain color. :-)

They are really cool!

Hello, I used to (and still do to some extent) sell a fair amount of turquoise. Look at the dark matrix (host stone) with a jeweler's loupe. A dark brown to black matrix is typically iron based and iron pyrite, and sometimes you can see some glitter of pyrite, or larger shiny areas. So far as I know iron will not be affected by a hot needle, and should not dent or burn (of course unless in a blast furnace). A turquoise bead with a lot of dark iron matrix should be heavier than a plain turquoise bead I would think. You also want to see a certain organic "fuzzy" interplay between the black matrix (even polished can have a surface irregularity and tiny pitting-though this could be filled in with surface wax) and the turquoise- visible with a loupe if you look along where the colors meet. Can you take some close ups of the beads with the dark veining?
While the color variation in the bead in the bottom right 2nd photo is reassuring, the hot pin results don't make sense.
Anne

Hi Nishedha, I took some of my turquoise out and hot pin tested it..maybe a scratch but no indentations and no chemical smells. Like I said, the turquoise with the dark (iron pyrite or iron oxide/hematite) matrix will show some subtle organic interplay between the turquoise and the dark matrix: fuzzy edges for lack of a better description. Look at several beads, and inside the hole with a loupe too to check color changes- some are very chalky & much lighter inside- not a great sign. They do treat surfaces with wax and some polymer, which is OK, depending on the price and can add to durability.
Sometimes you'll see a gradual rust staining into the turquoise ( first and second photos), sometimes a flower pattern of the turquoise (like in the third and last photo). Sometimes spiderweb pattern like the donut. Or just random like the next donut, more matrix but "natural" turquoise patterns.

Also check for cracks and defects in turquoise with your loupe. I wish I had round beads to show you as they can look quite different. But the general ideas are the same. As far as color, go by what you like. Some of my best turquoise looks "fake" because the color is so pretty. Usually the bead color will vary some or have subtle differences- but not always. The color will change over time too, as worn and mixed with skin oils, especially if natural.

The colors you picked are really pretty, and look natural- in fact yours would be a nice match with many expensive pendants and other beads. While always good to be skeptical- especially if expensive...generally go by what you like is the best advice I've read in this Forum.

MOHS Hardness of Iron Pyrite is 6-6.5
MOHS Hardness of Iron Oxide-Hematite is 5.5-6.5
MOHS Hardness of turquoise is 5-6. The finest is said to reach hardness of 6
MOHS Hardness of Howlite is 3.5
MOHS Hardness of Magnesite is 3.5-4.5/5

Examples: Vintage Chinese "Tibetan" Turquoise most from from Hubei mine, China, now closed.
EDIT: There is also turquoise from the American Southwest that has a dark iron based matrix (Lander Blue, Bisbee, #8, Morenci, and Red Mountain mines to name a few. The best turquoise from both China and the USA can be sometimes difficult to distinguish, and both are expensive these days. Good, hard, and well colored Chinese (and other) turquoise has gained respect and has been utilized in Native American Jewelry for many years now, especially the spiderweb and other matrix patterns that resemble the more expensive and difficult to find similar looking turquoise from the Southwestern USA and also Mexico. I am only showing dark matrix here.

This is a really interesting paper on turquoises!
Sadly, as time passses, more I look at the beads and still more important,handle them,I become more suspicious.
Hopely, something will happen that will clear the sky.
Heart felt thanks!

Hello, the thing is, when I would buy turquoise decades back there would be some broken beads and these were very instructive as far as surface treatments, any interior chalkiness, and general color and hardness. I think short of breaking a bead that already has a crack in half and examining, a good Jeweler's loupe is your best bet- external and also look into the hole. I really relied on my trusted sources, after double checking, but you always have to be skeptical especially these days.

Are any of the beads already cracked and unusable that you could break and scrutinize? Like you, I'm not happy if things are intentionally misrepresented. You are hopefully able to re-contact the source and get a Refund if you are dissatisfied based on hot pin testing, the scrutiny of loupe observations, and/or issues with a broken bead and your suspicions (Pro-rate out cost of one bead).

People that have a Reputable Bead Business should stand behind their products, and be willing to make it right. No way should you "settle"- so if I were you, and had questions, either have them provide paperwork of validity, or make good, and reimburse your investment, just my opinion.

I cannot tell from a few photos if these are Genuine or something less.

A friend of mine purchased them on my behalf while in Serbia during for summer holidays,after I saw the photos and asked him to do so. Thus,a return is not feasible, much less to send them back and ask for a refund.
Anyway this is not the main issue, the problem is that I cannot use in a design something that I feel suspicious of.
But as they are NOT expensive, they may probably find someone liking them... in Spanish we have this saying: "La suerte de la fea, la guapa la desea".
Thank you for your help.

Sunday Mornin' Comin’ Down

“I found my cleanest dirty shirt
And I shaved my face and combed my hair
And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day”

“I read the news today, oh boy….”

"Do not be afraid of hurting me, I am braced for the worst scenario!"

"One Too Many Heartaches"

"I like to watch"

The stones beautiful, the photographs breathtaking...
Nice to meet you again, bob!

On(c)e is somewhat conswervative?

Adventures in Infrastructure Funding…..

I have a question. Your left turquoise bead shows black material at the bottom right. Is that part of the matrix/ natural? I have seen this in quite some beads. When it is solid as a rock I assume it is part of the matrix?

Here is a pic of a ring where a black paste seems covering a rock vein... or is it just assembled bits of turquoise or something else?
I find similar black in beads (from Nepal, genuine colour?)

I love love turquoise, but the more I know the less confident I am.
The Ladakh beads (next set of pictures) I bought beginning 90's and the sellers were emerging their beads in oil every morning, to give them a shine and make them more appealing to the customers. Unfortunately this gives them a saturated mat brownish look. It is what it is and it is part of their history now.

Wow, these look wonderful!
Regarding your questions about the dark matrix in turquoise. I really am not the go to guy for good answers Martine. Most of my beads I collected in Tibet during better times and I believe the matrix is natural in them. However during that time floods of treated turquoise began to show up. I was interested in the best quality I could find and avoided it but now it is everywhere and old authentic stones are now very scarce. As evidenced on this forum it is widely misunderstood that much is clear. Evaluating beads from photos on the internet is not easy so a definitive answer will not satisfy all questions. I am primarily a collector and am out of the game now as the game has changed so I am sure Jamey or Danny could elaborate what this means currently & better than I ever could so I would go to the mountain. I will try to offer authentic material when I post so go with that and if someone can elaborate on your questions this thread could break the speed limit!

Peace & Beads 💜

Thank you Bob! Your beads are delicious!!! Can't have enough.
Does anyone know more about these Asian black turquoise matrixes?

Exquisite beads. Please post some more. it is becoming rare to see good turquoise. Thank you!

I bought this small necklace in 'de duif' last september. The seller had acquired these turquoise during her Asian travels mid 80's. She no longer knew where she bought them. Does anyone recognize these 'flint' type shaped turquoise? Thank you.