Ethan Clarke
Turquoise is one of the most popular gemstones, and its rich colours and textures make it a favourite for jewellery. However, it is also one of the most commonly faked stones, so it's important to know how to spot the difference between real and fake. Fake turquoise is often made from plastic, resin, or a mineral called howlite, and can be identified by its appearance, weight, and smell. Genuine turquoise is relatively expensive, so if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. You can also identify fake turquoise by its weight—real turquoise is dense and heavy, whereas plastic imitations are very light. Another way to test for plastic is to heat a pin and place it on the surface of the stone—if it's plastic, you'll smell burning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Price | Genuine turquoise is relatively expensive. |
| Appearance | Fake turquoise is dyed to look like the real thing. It can be identified by its bright blue colour, weight, and unnatural sheen. |
| Fingernail test | Fake turquoise has a smooth surface, and you won't feel any ridges when you run your fingernail over it. |
| Scratch test | Turquoise is a soft stone, but fake turquoise is even softer and will scratch easily. |
| Matrix | Treated or enhanced turquoise will have little to no matrix, the dark veins that run through genuine turquoise. |
| Saturation | Fake turquoise is highly saturated, while real turquoise is more muted. |
| Weight | Real turquoise is dense and heavy, while fake turquoise is light and chalky. |
| Surface | Real turquoise has a smooth waxy surface, while fake turquoise feels gritty or sandy. |
| Transparency | Real turquoise is opaque, and light shouldn't pass through it. |
| Enhancement | Fake turquoise is usually treated or enhanced with dyes or heat, resulting in uneven colouring or blotches on the surface. |
| Burning smell | Heating a pin and placing it on the surface of the stone will result in a burning plastic smell if the piece is an imitation. |
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What You'll Learn
- Scratch test: Turquoise is hard to scratch, unlike its imitations
- Appearance: Fake turquoise may have dye piled up in cracks or no cracks at all
- Weight: Real turquoise is dense and heavy, whereas plastic is lightweight
- Colour: Fake turquoise is often highly saturated, unlike the real stone
- Matrix: Treated or enhanced turquoise will have little to no matrix
Scratch test: Turquoise is hard to scratch, unlike its imitations
Turquoise is a popular gem with its distinct blue hue, ancient history, and spiritual ties. However, with its high demand, fake turquoise is prevalent in the market. It is essential to be able to distinguish real turquoise from its imitations. One of the ways to do this is through a scratch test.
The scratch test is a simple and fairly accurate method to determine the authenticity of turquoise. It involves either scratching the stone or using the stone to scratch another surface. While turquoise is a relatively soft stone with a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6, its imitations, such as howlite and magnesite, are even softer, with a rating of 2. Therefore, if you can easily scratch the stone with your fingernail, a coin, or a butter knife, it is likely inauthentic. On the other hand, if the stone is challenging to scratch, it is more likely to be genuine turquoise.
It is important to note that the scratch test can cause permanent damage to the turquoise sample. Therefore, it is recommended to perform the test on a less visible part of the stone, such as the underside. Additionally, if you have access to a hardness testing kit, you can use the scratching pens with different hardness levels to more precisely determine the hardness of the stone.
The scratch test is a useful tool to identify fake turquoise, as imitations are often softer and more susceptible to scratches than real turquoise. By understanding the relative hardness of turquoise and its imitations, you can make an informed assessment of the authenticity of the stone.
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Appearance: Fake turquoise may have dye piled up in cracks or no cracks at all
Fake turquoise can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, resin, wax, and minerals like howlite, magnesite, and epoxy. These imitation stones are often dyed to resemble the colour of genuine turquoise.
When examining a piece of turquoise, one way to identify whether it is fake is to inspect its appearance for signs of dye piled up in the cracks of the stone. Fake turquoise may be dyed to look like the real thing, and the dye may be visible in the cracks or crevices of the stone. If the dye appears to be piled up or collected in the cracks, this is a strong indication that the turquoise is not genuine.
In some cases, fake turquoise may have no cracks at all. This could be because the cracks have been filled in with dye or paint to mimic the appearance of genuine turquoise. Genuine turquoise typically has dark veins or ridges that can be felt with a fingernail, whereas fake turquoise may have a smooth surface with no discernible cracks or deviations in texture.
To identify fake turquoise with no cracks, you can try the fingernail test. Run your fingernail over the surface of the stone. If it feels perfectly smooth and you cannot catch your fingernail in any crevices or ridges, this suggests that the stone may be fake. Genuine turquoise should have some variation in texture that can be felt with a fingernail.
Another way to identify fake turquoise is to examine its weight. Real turquoise is relatively dense and heavy for its size, while fake turquoise made of plastic or resin is often very lightweight. If the piece of turquoise feels too light or chalky, it is likely to be a fake.
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Weight: Real turquoise is dense and heavy, whereas plastic is lightweight
One of the most popular gemstones, turquoise, is frequently replicated and sold as fake. While it can be challenging to distinguish between real and imitation turquoise, one of the key indicators is its weight.
Real turquoise is dense and heavy, while plastic is lightweight. The weight of turquoise is one of the critical factors in determining its authenticity. Genuine turquoise is relatively dense and heavy for its size. If a piece of purported turquoise feels light or chalky, it is likely not authentic. The weight of real turquoise is noticeably different from plastic imitations, which are notably lighter.
The weight of turquoise can be influenced by various factors, including its size, cut, and treatment. However, even small pieces of genuine turquoise should have a noticeable heft to them. The weight of turquoise can also vary depending on its quality and purity. High-quality, untreated turquoise tends to be denser and heavier than lower-quality or treated stones.
When examining the weight of turquoise, it is essential to consider other factors that can affect its density and weight. For example, some treatments, such as stabilisation or impregnation with wax or resin, can increase the weight of the stone. Additionally, the presence of inclusions or impurities can impact the weight of the stone.
While weight is a crucial factor in determining the authenticity of turquoise, it should not be the only consideration. Other tests, such as the scratch test, fingernail test, and examination of colour and saturation, should also be conducted to comprehensively assess the authenticity of the stone.
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Colour: Fake turquoise is often highly saturated, unlike the real stone
Colour is a key factor in determining whether a turquoise stone is real or fake. Fake turquoise is often highly saturated, whereas the real stone tends to be more muted in colour. Genuine turquoise is rarely a bright blue; it is usually a greenish blue or pale blue. If the turquoise is too bright, it may be fake. Real turquoise will never be anything but a blue-green shade, so if it is purple or another unnatural colour, it is not real turquoise.
Fake turquoise, often made from a mineral called howlite, can come in a wide range of colours, including green, black, brown, pink, and purple. Howlite is naturally white, so it can be dyed any colour. However, dyed howlite generally looks very similar to real turquoise. Fake turquoise is also sometimes made from plastic, which can be identified by its lightweight feel.
Some other ways to identify fake turquoise include the appearance of white spots or chips in the stone, or the presence of drill holes. Fake turquoise may also feel hollow inside, whereas genuine turquoise will not. The weight of the stone is also a factor, as real turquoise is relatively dense and heavy for its size.
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Matrix: Treated or enhanced turquoise will have little to no matrix
Matrix refers to the dark veins that run through genuine turquoise. Treated or enhanced turquoise will have little to no matrix. This is an easy way to tell if turquoise has been artificially enhanced.
Fake turquoise is often dyed to look like the real thing. The dye may pile up in the cracks of the stone, which is a dead giveaway. If there are no cracks, they may have been painted on to resemble real turquoise.
The fingernail test can be used to check for the matrix. If you run your fingernail over the matrix of real turquoise, your fingernail will catch in the crevasses. On the other hand, fake turquoise will have a simulated matrix that is perfectly smooth to the touch, and your fingernail will not catch on anything.
Another test is to heat a pin and place it on the surface of the stone. If it is plastic, you will smell a burning plastic odour.
The scratch test is another way to check if your turquoise is genuine. Turquoise is a soft stone, but Howlite, a common turquoise imitation, is even softer. If your stone scratches easily, it is likely Howlite. However, if it is difficult to scratch, you have genuine turquoise.
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Frequently asked questions
Genuine turquoise is rarely a bright blue – it’s usually more of a greenish blue or pale blue. If the turquoise is too bright, it may be fake. Fake turquoise is often very highly saturated, while real turquoise tends to be more muted in colour.
Real turquoise is relatively dense and heavy for its size. If it feels light or chalky, it's probably plastic. Real turquoise has a smooth waxy surface. If it feels gritty or sandy, it may be plastic.
One simple test involves heating a pin and placing it on the surface of the stone – a burning plastic smell will indicate that the piece is an imitation. Another test involves soaking the piece in a strong solvent, such as acetone overnight. It is possible that some dye will leach out into the solvent, giving you a solid indicator that the piece is either fake or dyed.
