Turquoise Guide
Sourced with Respect, Sold with Pride
At Double J Turquoise, we believe jewelry is more than an accessory—it is a connection to the earth and the artist's hand. We started this brand to bridge the gap between the incredibly talented silversmiths of the Southwest and the collectors who cherish their work. We aren't just selling stones; we are preserving a heritage.
Artist-Direct Buying
We do not buy from anonymous warehouses. We work directly with the artists. By cutting out the middlemen, we ensure two things:
- Fair Value: The artists are paid what their masterful work is truly worth.
- Authenticity: When you buy from us, you know exactly who made your piece and where it came from.
Our Sourcing Standard
Every stone in our case is genuine. We specialize in American-mined turquoise (like Kingman and Royston) and high-grade international rarities (like Golden Hills). If a piece is stabilized for durability, we tell you. If a stone is natural and untreated, we celebrate it. No secrets, just beautiful, honest turquoise.
The Stones
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Classic Blues & Greens
Kingman Turquoise (Arizona): The American standard. Known for its vivid sky-blue color and famous black "spiderweb" matrix. It is the heart of Southwest jewelry.
Golden Hills (Kazakhstan): A modern favorite. Instantly recognizable by its soft lavender-blue periwinkle color and burnt-sienna matrix. A harder, chemically pure stone.
Sonoran Gold (Mexico): A stunning mix of bright green and gold. This stone features unique two-tone colors ranging from lime to emerald with golden matrix.
Blue Ridge & Lariat: Known for their dynamic matrix patterns and varying shades of teal and deep green, offering a rugged, earthy look.
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Group 2: Black & White (The Modern Classics)
White Buffalo: Not technically turquoise, but a rare dolomite found only in Nevada. It is prized for its stark white color and heavy black matrix—the "White Turquoise" of the trade.
White Horse: A close cousin to White Buffalo, known for chocolate-brown to reddish matrix running through a creamy white stone.
Midnight Storm & Onyx: Deep, moody stones. Midnight Storm offers dark grey/black hues with lightning-strike patterns, while Onyx provides a solid, jet-black contrast to silver work.
White Bronze: A unique metallic look, adding a modern, industrial edge to traditional settings.
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Reds, Pinks & Shells
Spiny Oyster (Sea of Cortez): A vibrant shell, not a stone. Its fiery oranges, deep reds, and purples create the perfect high-contrast pop against blue turquoise.
Red Mountain: A legendary mine known for deep, rust-red spiderweb matrix cutting through dark blue or green turquoise.
Pink Conch: A soft, pastel pink shell that adds a feminine, vintage touch to traditional silver designs.
Mine vs. Color
You want a piece that matches your style. You are looking for a specific shade—maybe a deep forest green or a bright sky blue.
- What to know: Different mines can produce the same color. A green stone could be from the Royston mine or the Manassa mine. If you are buying for color, focus on the vibe of the piece and the quality of the silversmithing.
You are buying for rarity and provenance. You care about the history of the mine (especially "Ghost Mines" that are closed and no longer producing).
- What to know: A stone from a rare mine (like Lander Blue or Bisbee) will be significantly more expensive than a similar-looking stone from a large, active mine. You aren't just paying for the blue; you are paying for a piece of geological history that can never be mined again.
The "Nature's Fingerprint"
Every Stone tells a Different Story.
"Please remember: These are natural, earth-mined stones, not factory-made plastic.
Variations: No two stones are identical. The matrix (veins) and color shade you see on your screen may vary slightly in person.
The Matrix: The brown, black, or metallic lines in your stone are the 'fingerprint' of the mine it came from.
Care: Turquoise is a porous stone. Avoid harsh chemicals, perfumes, and silver cleaner directly on the stone."