Imitations

Utah turquoise is not turquoise at all.  It is variscite.  Variscite is hydrated aluminum phosphate, a rare mineral. It tends to be green in color,… Read More »Utah Turquoise

Vienna turquoise is a glass made by compressing an aluminum phosphate precipitate that has been colored with copper oleate.  We could find very information on this imitation… Read More »Vienna Turquoise

Howlite turquoise is a substitute turquoise made of dyed howlite, a borate mineral.  Howlite is porous, like turquoise.  In its natural form it is white… Read More »Howlite “Turquoise”

Turquoise is often confused with (and thus occasionally substituted with) several other gemstones.  We will refer to these as nature’s imposters.  Among the gemstones most… Read More »Nature’s Imposters

Polymer clay “turquoise” is a “genuine imitation” in the sense that the brilliant crafts persons who fabricate polymer clay “turquoise” fully acknowledge the materials they… Read More »Polymer Clay Faux Turquoise

Block turquoise, sometimes called synthetic turquoise, contains no turquoise at all. It is made by combining inert ingredients, dye, and usually a resin to form… Read More »Egyptian Faience Ceramic

It is not quite right to refer to faience as a “turquoise imitation” because genuine, ancient faience is worth more than its weight in gold!… Read More »Block Turquoise

African Turquoise is not turquoise at all.  It is a type of jasper found in Africa and is often dyed to achieve a turquoise-like color. … Read More »African Turquoise