Finer quality gemstones have limits on their popularity. The chances are very likely they will get sold out real fast especially if the gemstone is natural with all of its features out front.
Finer quality turquoise is one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world by designers and other types of buyers.
Variety of color also appeals to a mass audience. Some colors are more desirable than others, which will also affect how much they will have on their price.
While certainly there is a lot of information surrounding turquoise, this article will give you all the important bits to help you make an educated decision on the purchase.
Table of Contents
How Much Does Turquoise Cost?
The prices of turquoise stones range from $1 to $10 per carat, on the other side of the turquoise ladder, you will also come across a price of $0.05 to $1000 per carat. It all depends on the quality of turquoise that you are planning to purchase. There is a huge difference between quality turquoise and other stones. They might look the same to an untrained eye, but they will have enough difference in them for one stone to get sold at $1000 or more per carat while the other will only fetch a $1 per carat.
Does The Color of Turquoise Matter On The Final Price?
As discussed earlier, color does matter a lot when it comes to gemstones. People always judge gemstones by their color.
Some of the highest favorable gemstones always get judged by their color. The darker deep color of any gemstone is much more favorable compared to a light pale appearance.
When it comes to turquoise, it follows the same rule as every other gemstone in the market. The color will also have an effect on the price.
You will find blue turquoise in the market that will give an even, interesting, medium blue appearance to them. The intense blue color is more desirable compared to the other form of color.
You will also come across turquoise with green-blue color to them. These turquoise are less desirable compared to the intense blue variation. It is simple to say that if the turquoise has an intense blue color, it will fetch a much higher price in the market than a light pale variation.
You might be interested to read the Opal Cost, Ruby Cost, Lapis Lazuli Cost.
Does weight matter in the turquoise price?
Another factor that you should know is the weight of the turquoise. Turquoise is weighed in carats. Therefore, 5 carats will translate to one gram.
The easy rule for the weight of any gemstone is that if its weights are high, it will be more expensive. Depending on the weight, the price of the stone can go from 0.05 cents to $500 per carat. It all depends on the quality of the stone and its weight.
If the stone is pricy, you need to weigh it to know its real weight. If the weight is medium or high, then the price will get decided based on this factor.
Turquoise grading system and its prices
Turquoise also gets measured in quality, the quality will play one of the nuggets in raising the overall price of the stone.
The turquoise quality index or TQI is a form of measurement that shows the quality of the turquoise stone.
The number that gets used is within the scale of 8 to 100. A higher number of turquoise stones will result in better quality.
Reaching a higher number is not as easy as it sounds; only less than 1% of the stone gets a market score of 90 or higher. The rest stays below the 90% marker, which will tell you how popular these stones are and how much they are in demand.
If the turquoise has a score of 90 to 100, it will be considered an AAAA product of superior quality. This score covers 1% of the turquoise stone market grade. The price tag here will be between $50 to $1000.
If the turquoise has an 85 to 89, it will be considered an AAA product of high quality. This score covers 2% of the turquoise stone market grade. The price tag here will be between $10 to $50.
If the turquoise has a score of 75 to 84, it will be considered an AA product of high quality. This score covers 5% of the turquoise stone market grade. The price tag here will be between $2.50 to $10.
If the turquoise has a score of 65 to 74, it will be considered an A product of medium quality. This score covers 10% of the turquoise stone market grade. The price tag here will be between $1 to $2.50.
If the turquoise has a score of 35 to 64, it will be considered a B product of superior quality. This score covers 22% of the turquoise stone market grade. The price tag here will be between $0.05 to $1.00.
If the turquoise has a score of 17 to 34, it will be considered a Reconstituted product of fabricated quality. This score covers 60% of the turquoise stone market grade. The price tag here will be between $0.02 to $0.05.
If the turquoise has a score of 8 to 16, it will be considered a synthetic product of superior quality. This score covers 60% of the turquoise stone market grade. The price tag here will be between $0.01.
It is much easier to find a synthetic turquoise cost since their availability depends on the quality. Since they can be easily imitated without putting in too much work. If you’re a newcomer, you need to know how the stone will be sold online or from your local store.
Since they can be easily imitated to look like real stones. The demand for these stones is high and it is showing no sign of slowing down any time soon. So you need to be prepared for what you are going to get.
Things To Know Before purchase a Turquoise
You need to select a reputable source for the purchase. Since they are heavy on demand you will come across plenty of stones locally and online try to sell you an authentic turquoise.
Here you need to look out for the record and set of documentation that will prove the originality of the turquoise.
Most sellers will provide you with the records to prove the authenticity of the gemstone.
So the consumer will have trust in the product and the seller. If you are planning to make a purchase, then you need to be aware of all the facts beforehand.
What is TQI scoring system for Turquoise Gemstone?
The TQI scoring system is an excellent way to estimate the price and grade of the turquoise. When it comes to turquoise, two major components get taken into account to measure its quality.
The physical structure and the rarity of the stone. One thing you should know is that not all turquoise stones are alike.
All of them are unique in their patterns and colors. Synthetic plastic turquoise can be mass-produced without any attention given to its clarity or value in the future.
The turquoise considered rare will have all the right conditions, the TQI meter will put these rare turquoises on the grade AAAA level. It is better to contact a professional to look after the stone to know the authenticity of them.
Since they are easily marketable without any effort, the chances are high that newcomers will come across the fake ones rather than seeing the real thing.
Finding real turquoise is rare and very difficult.
Online records and documents are some of the best ways to show whether turquoise is legitimate or not.
If the turquoise has a TQI score, you will need to know what grade they are sitting at.
The higher the grade is the more pricer they will be in return. The rarity of the turquoise will also see a hike when it comes to its rarity. High-grade turquoise will cover 1% or lower than that in the entire market. That is odd that you are facing when you are buying quality turquoise. But most of the moon and decent ones will be available for a far more affordable price. So it is better to switch to a dement medium turquoise with all its quality without giving out the cheap vibe.
Conclusion
The grading system will help people a lot in knowing the quality of the turquoise without hiring a professional. Most sellers will prove documentation and records showing the TQI results of their stone. If you are planning to make a purchase, it is much better to gather as much information as possible about the seller and their holdings in the market. Read up consumer reviews to get a clear picture of their product and the company as a whole.
