This cab was sold to me as Bisbee.
It was in a group of cabs, all labeled Bisbee. Most were clearly smoky Bisbee.
Some were a bit TOO smokey, and I didn’t like the gray/blue tones.
There were about four that looked different than the smoky Bisbee pieces. They were very much alike and seemed to be cut from the same larger piece…this was one of them.
It was a hard decision with the salesperson breathing down my neck!
I loved it, bought it. When I got it home, I’m thinking it looks more like Kingman than Bisbee.
It has that bird’s eye look that I love, but I don’t think that Bisbee occurs with the bird’s eye effect?
The matrix is dark brown.
I’d love to hear all your opinions!
Is it bad that I like the back more than the front? It’s a really pretty stone, I would have purchased it too. I would polish the back of that beauty I have no idea what it is, so sorry I can’t help there. Do you mind sharing the rest of the parcel? I’d love to see them. I do see that this one is a nice size.
@CyanideRose18
It’s the only stone I bought from that group.
I’m thinking king of going back to get maybe one more of the smoky Bisbee. Or maybe I’ll ask to exchange it.
They were all quite large. This one is 20 carats.
The back does look like Kingman; I wasn’t sure about the front, but agree it doesn’t particularly remind me of Bisbee. I’ve got a couple pieces with Bisbee (one smokey one not) which look different. But I am no expert!
I love the front, LOVE that color. But the back is pretty also. Interesting that the matrix on front is more black, and the back is whiter. I know sometimes black is added added to the matrix in Kingman, I have a couple where I think that’s the case, but they aren’t flat, they are more nuggety (is that a word??).
@Ziacat
That’s the thing…Bisbee stones can look so different! I mean , there’s the typical smoky look, but then there is some with webbing and others that are clear blue, and some almost all brown.
I’m so confused!
It’s one thing to look at pictures online and say "oh yeah, that’s Bisbee, that’s Kingman, that’s Royston…but it’s another thing to see them in person and try to decide what to spend your money on!
Ok… I understand now. You are lucky to have a place near you to get some gorgeous turquoise. If you do decide to get the smoky cab, please share that one too. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with this one
@CyanideRose18@Ziacat
I found these stones in an antique mall here in NM, of all places.
The owner of the mall said that the lady who runs the booth was selling some of her husband’s old stock, that he was a cabber at one time.
All the stones were labeled Bisbee, and all of them looked typical Bisbee. But I was drawn to this one.
I’m gonna go back today and take another look.
Perhaps I can exchange this one. If not, I’ll just buy one of the smoky ones. The stone was only $60
I would keep it too. When I said I’d like to see what you will do with this one, I meant what piece of jewelry you will make with it Nice turquoise is hard to find, it would be difficult for me to let this piece go. The color of the turquoise is really nice.
Me, too. They are beautiful and very close in shape. They would look great in a piece together A nice double cab ring or a cuff… idk but whatever you do with them will be pretty. I’m sure of that.
So check this out.
After some investigation, I deduced that this stone’s matrix was darkened with shoe polish, or some other black substance.
So I attacked it with sand paper and then re-polished it.
Looks like I have a decent piece of water web turquoise! Bisbee or Kingman-who knows-but it turned out OK!
Before:
Well there ya go! I know that is done with Kingman sometimes, and maybe Sleeping Beauty also.
I have a couple pieces that I believe have been darkened; on one you can even see where it’s coming off. There was a post on seafoam vs nugget stones, and I posted these 2. The ring on the left was a natural stone (it was very light when I got it, and has completely darkened as I’ve worn it) that I think had the matrix darkened, because you can see where it’s coming off. The other I think is stabilized and darkened. I don’t care, I like them that way.
I have no idea what it is, so sorry I can’t help there. Do you mind sharing the rest of the parcel? I’d love to see them. I do see that this one is a nice size.
An antique mall sounds like my kinda place but dangerous for my wallet 
