I read that this tufa cast bracelet had redskin turquoise in it, which I read is some stinky smelling fake stuff from China so I notified him that I may return it because I thought it was all turquoise and never knew what redskin turquoise was but he responded with saying that it’s from a mine that gives it an iron stain and that’s why they call it redskin turquoise, what are your thoughts? I hope I’m wrong!!
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I’ve never heard of redskin turquoise, but I’m mostly only familiar with turquoise in the Southwest and a little bit in Mexico.
I really like the snakes on the side of that cuff.
Which of these stones are you referring to? Never heard this term. so I’d like to see what piece or pieces you mean. Someone says it smells? Who says so?
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I’ve heard it’s from a tin mine in China. Yours is the first piece of Red Skin jewelry I’ve seen.
Interesting that Durango Silver calls Red Skin Turquoise “another fake from China.” Not quite sure what that means since another site states it is “very special and unique coming from the famous Red Skin mine in northern China” (Red Skin Turquoise - Notes From the Road).
And, check out the Etsy listing for “Redskin Bisbee turquoise” a “High grade American mine, collectors turquoise, Stone of fortune.”
Lg Redskin Bisbee Turquoise High Grade American Mine - Etsy
Has anyone heard of “Redskin Bisbee turquoise?” Sounds like something of an oxymoron🙄?
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Sounds like a potato.
Definitely never heard of Redskin Bisbee.
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People still make up things about stones. Calling it Stone of Fortune sure sounds like Chinese ad copy.
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Just looked at the Redskin Bisbee link. Hmmm.
Case you had noticed it’s both boho AND hippie.
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@Ziacat Two for the price of one! 
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For sure! And I think I’m a little more boho and a little less hippie!
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A good laugh for the day…I cracked up when I say Redskin Bisbee…
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So, back to @Blackturtlehawk question, I think it depends of how much you want the bracelet, and is there turquoise other that Red Skin in the inlay? It’s definitely Chinese turquoise, probably not natural, but if you really like it that’s OK. There’s a heck of a lot of nice jewelry out there with stabilized turquoise!
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Well in his ad he didn’t indicate which one was the baked potato “redskin turquoise” but I was just curious about that name because I never heard of it so my journey led me to good ol guys at Durango and they wrote about redskin turquoise and said it was fake and smelled bad even when an artist cut it(who cut the cheese?)
Here’s the bracelet description ad…………
@Bmpdvm the seller really stands by this being authentic turquoise as he claims he’s worked in the turquoise business for many years, but he also guaranteed that when it arrives and I don’t like it I can ship it back for a refund
You’re being sold a bill of goods. Iron in turquoise is not a “stain” situation affecting its surface. Iron in turquoise turns the stones greener rather than more blue.
It’s really caveat emptor when you’re working with a random seller–I assume this isn’t a storefront, right, but an individual on a platform? You can decide you want something because you like it, period, or you can make goals for your collecting and stick with them. You know which type you are.
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Well @chicfarmer your right about the stain issue because that’s the first rule of turquoise club….green is more iron, copper is more blue!! I should have caught that! Yes it was sold to me off a platform but I’m not a fan of unnatural/dyed/irradiated/heat treatments with any stones/gems I collect so it may be going back!
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I hear you on the stones, but I wouldn’t be too turned away from stabilized stones if they’re still beautiful and in a beautiful piece. I have quite a few things that have stabilized turquoise and I still love them. And in a couple of rings that I bought that have natural turquoise, the stone actually hasn’t held up as well as the stabilized pieces, because they were a lower grade natural turquoise. I have a mix of all kinds of turquoise, because I’m looking at the whole piece, and what speaks to me. And what I can afford. 
My rules are…
- buy from reputable shops / traders
- only buy it if I LOVE it and will wear it (guess that’s 3 rules).
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I like that, know your goals about what you want. I think I’m a mostly a “buy what you love” kind of person, but sometimes there are certain things/artists I’m looking for.
I can get rather emotionally attached to things sometimes (no I’m not a hoarder haha), and my jewelry is a great way to do that. However, doesn’t work so well when you’re trying to get rid of your childhood Breyer plastic horses that have broken legs…
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The semantics are important…how does he define authentic turquoise. Maybe specifically question him about stabilization if you want only natural “organic” turquoise. And he mentions #8 and Kingman (which is almost always stabilized.) Maybe contact James Sloan to get the information from, as they say, from the horses mouth. If the word natural is not used, I always assume it is stabilized.
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Was thinking…why would anyone who knows anything about Native jewelry call a stone “redskin”? Would someone involved with a foreign mine assume that term would sell turquoise?? Or are they really just saying it’s because of the iron…whole thing seems a bit off the more I think bout it.
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@Ziacat this is all useful information to consider and humble one self when dealing with turquoise!!! I guess I can be a fan of both sides with this in mind!! I recently purchased some cripple creek and it’s the closest towards my personal preference which is stable naturally and no treatments and I purchased a old lot piece I believe because I’ve never seen a blue cripple creek this color nowadays.
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