Turquoise Jewelry Collector / Buyer Guide
Silver Gold Southwest Native American Turquoise Jewelry

Sedona Indian Jewelry sells investment grade jewelry.

We are a long time collector / dealer... we sell Investment Grade Southwest Jewelry.

Turquoise was first added to silver jewelry by Zuni silversmiths in the mid to late 1800's.

The Zuni learned to make silver jewelry from the Navajo, who learned from a Mexican
 silversmith who learned from the Spanish.

Silversmithing moved north from Mexico to the Navajo and Zuni in the mid 1800's

Most Southwest Turquoise was a by product of Copper Mining... the copper content is
usually what gives stone its color. Most experts agree that only about 5% of the turquoise
mined on the planet is gem. Gem turquoise is hard... it has beautiful color that glows
 from within the stone.... Zat or Brilliance.

Gem turquoise is collected by both rock hounds and jewelry buffs.

Inexpensive gem turquoise is about as common as a cheap Ferrari. Expect highest quality
 turquoise to be priced higher then gold. Turquoise that is not gem is not discarded.
It is treated in one way or another to make it useable.

Stabilized or treated turquoise is infused with resin under pressure. This process enhances
the otherwise pale color and allows the turquoise to hold together while it is worked.

The lowest grade of turquoise (and most common) is Block.

Block turquoise is soft and chalky. It is ground into dust and mixed in vats with resin
and poured into block molds to cure. The color of Block Turquoise is completely on the
 surface, with no brilliance what so ever... like a pale blue, plastic toy.

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Among the most beautiful Southwest turquoise is Bisbee, Smokey Bisbee, #8, Morenci,
 Carico Lake, Royston, Nevada Blue, Easter Blue, Pilot Mountain, Red Mountain,
Indian Mountain, Lone Mountain... Kingman, Ithaca Peak, Burnham, Godber,
Orvil Jack and Lander Blue too....

An extremely rare Boyd Tsosie Lander Blue Turquoise Ring (1970's)
(The piece is sold - this is here as a reference photo)

Rare Bisbee Blue Turquoise

Dark Veined Kingman Water Web Turquoise
(The Ray Yazzie Buckle is sold - this is here as a reference photo)

Kingman Water Web Turquoise Belt Buckle by Vernon Haskie
(The piece is sold - this is here as a reference photo)

Exquisite #8... I also heard it attributed to Grandfather Mine... none the less,
it is on the very short list of the most beautiful turquoise I ever saw

The Gold bolotie, Ostrich string tie and Lapidary are all the art
of Herbert Taylor (deceased)

This is a very large perfect turquoise gemstone
(The piece is sold - the image is here as a collector's reference)

Another blow your mind piece of turquoise from the #8 Turquoise Mine

Here we see a totally magnificent #8 turquoise gemstone in yet another
stunning color. I've been looking almost every waking hour for the last too many
 years for stones like this... so rare... so beautiful.

If you ever find more beautiful Smokey Bisbee then this please remember
 me when you decide to sell it. That's been a long standing request and never
 has better Smokey Bisbee appeared. As if that wasn't enough, it's a
 Mark Chee with no effects in the turquoise from the blasting...
probably a very early Bisbee.

There are 3, very large, matching, Bisbee gemstones.

Rare Gem Morenci Robin's Egg Blue Turquoise with Pyrite and dendrites

Old Lone Mountain Turquoise, Fire Australian Opal, Lapis, Coral and Gold - Raymond Yazzie

Gold Turquoise Jewelry

Want more turquoise information, follow the hyperlinks... our website has lots of info and pictures.
I also suggest the following two books: Turquoise Unearthed, Lowry and
Turquoise The Gem of the Century, Branson

This is just a inkling of what we have... explore the gallery and see it all.