Looking for some information on the type of turquoise and origin as well as the possible value?
@LM3232 Welcome! That’s a nice turquoise pendant. My guess & opinion is that it’s likely Chinese turquoise. Also, the way the bail is assembled to the bezel doesn’t look Native American to me. Hopefully, others will chime in with info.
I was definitely thinking it looked like a newer piece to me! Thank you for your time and input!
A beautiful spiderweb stone. Seems like most of that, these days (new pieces) are indeed Chinese.
Agree with @Patina: Chinese stone, not likely NA
First thought Kingman but it’s too new and thus likely Chinese. Don’t know about styles. Beautiful stone.
I think it looks very much like Chinese. @gt75, Black Web Kingman can certainly be in new pieces, but this looks different. Kingman is what we usually default to when we don’t know, because there is so stinking much of it out there, but this looks like a Chinese stone
I’m surely not an expert at all ;))
Just had the thought because the “blue” stones in my bracelet could be Kingman and look similar.
Here, the color behind the turquoise color is extremely black and even, while on mine it’s rather dark brown and uneven in color, like grit or semolina. Is this the way to distinguish between Chinese and Kingman?
I love to read here to learn every day.
I see what you are saying, but if you look at the matrix it looks different. What I was trying to say was that I don’t necessarily assume that a newer piece doesn’t have Kingman. Before I joined this site I hadn’t seen a lot of Chinese turquoise. I feel like in the places I’ve shopped out west there isn’t nearly as much of it; I think you see more of it online. But to me it has a very distinctive look, although I can’t usually put my finger on it; it just doesn’t look like American turquoise to my eye. I’m sure that’s not very much help
You are learning a lot, and you will continue to learn more!! And your gut instinct was to say Chinese turquoise, so I think you’re starting to see it looks a little different. And believe me, I’m no expert either , but I have looked at a lot of turquoise.
Although in the end, like we always say, we never really know for sure without provenance. And we always can still be completely surprised. But I think this is a Chinese stone … and there’s nothing wrong with that! Chinese turquoise can be absolutely gorgeous. I just personally avoid it, because for myself I prefer American turquoise, since it reminds me so much of my travels in the southwest.
And now you have me scratching my head trying to decide what makes me think something is Chinese turquoise versus other…
I feel like I either see stones like this one that have the really black matrix with roundish spots (for lack of a better word), or stones like in your big cuff where sometimes the coloring is also what makes me lean towards Chinese.
Is Chinese often used to say “not US-American”?
Well, there is Mexican, Persian, …
No, I specifically mean Chinese turquoise, and I know there are many different mines, but I don’t know how to tell those apart. For example Persian turquoise and Sonoran Gold turquoise from Mexico look different from Chinese turquoise to me.
I didn’t think I owned any Chinese turquoise, but I’m beginning to think one of my necklaces is. Sometime I’ll post it, and get people’s opinion. I also have a buckle that I now think may have Persian turquoise. And I definitely have a piece with Sonoran Gold. Isn’t it fascinating! And a minefield, pun not intended
And then there’s Golden Hills turquoise from Kazakhstan that has a very particular look to it also.
Looking forward to see the discussions on your necklace and buckle.
Sad we don’t have any Chinese experts here, or do we?
I didn’t word my comment about most newer stuff being Chinese correctly; I meant that most of the black web material looking like what is in that pendant that is newer seems to often be Chinese (not all turquoise). Newer pieces also contain plenty of other varieties of turquoise, too.
I got you, that makes sense!