Lander Blue
and
(like) Lander Blue Turquoise
Lander Blue Turquoise is the rarest and most expensive turquoise in the world
Yet, there are
sometimes turquoise specimens from other mines that exhibit the
beauty and
feeling of Lander Blue... and more!!
This page is to Lander Blue Turquoise and that turquoise like it.
There was only 80
lbs of rough that came of the couch size hole in the
ground called Lander Blue... you could build a mountain with the turquoise
that's been incorrectly (to say the least) sold as Landers.
This is definitely
not to say that other turquoises are any less beautiful...
they are just as beautiful. The point here is that you should know what
you are buying. Hopefully this brief webpage will help you do just that.
You would be
making a great mistake to assume you have discovered a
bargain stash of Lander Blue and outwitted the pros... Caveat Emptor
have been wise words since the Roman Empire. Not much has changed
Photographs and text by SedonaIndianJewelry.com
An extremely rare Boyd Tsosie Lander Blue Ring shot atop the Lander Blue page
from the book Turquoise Unearthed, by Lowry
While there are very expensive rarities from other Southwest mines, the fact remains
that
turquoise from the Lander Blue Mine is the most expensive turquoise in the
world. it is not
unusual to pay $200 to $250 dollars per carat for high grade Lander Blue. Larger
or
unusually beautiful specimens demand a premium price above that.
Unattractive or small pieces of Lander Blue are worth less.
it is interesting
to note that collectors and silversmiths in the Southwest (who know
turquoise very, very well) have been paying a hefty premium for
Lander Blue
turquoise for the past 30 years.
Japanese
collectors have recently been buying Lander Blue turquoise. The supply
is so thin that a small increase in demand has caused prices to dramatically
increase.
In spite of these difficult economic times, prices have remained steady.
In early 2008, a small uncut Lander Blue Nugget sold for $38,000
The Lander Blue
Mine was first discovered in 1973. It is generally acknowledged that
before the
mine was depleted and the site abandoned, a total of about 80-100 lbs of
rough was unearthed
(not polished turquoise.. but rough!!). All efforts to mine more Lander Blue
turquoise failed.
This is a very small amount of turquoise to fill a big, big demand.
Because of that, a word of caution is called for. Perhaps it is ignorance or
maybe wishful
thinking on the part of sellers
but all too often turquoise that is not Lander Blue is said
to be Lander Blue and sold at Lander Blue prices.
The
images on this page are those of genuine Lander Blue turquoise... authenticated
by Boyd Tsosie and
Vernon Haskie documented in
the books of
Lowry and Oscar Branson.
This is Lander Blue Turquoise.
Philbert Begay Lander Blue Turquoise and Silver Ring
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Vernon Haskie 14K Gold Lander Blue Turquoise Ring
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Lander Blue Turquoise Silver Ring by Boyd Tsosie
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