Turquoise is a popular gemstone known for its striking blue-green color. High quality turquoise can fetch very high prices, especially rare varieties from certain mines. Determining the most expensive turquoise involves looking at factors like the mine of origin, color saturation, matrix patterns, carat weight, and overall demand.
Most Valuable Turquoise Mines
The most valuable turquoise tends to come from a few select mines that consistently produce rare, high-quality gems. These include:
- Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Mine (Arizona, USA) – Produces vibrant robin’s egg blue turquoise with little veining/matrix.
- Number 8 Turquoise Mine (Nevada, USA) – Known for its deep blue “sky blue” turquoise color.
- Bisbee Turquoise Mine (Arizona, USA) – Features bright blue turquoise with a distinctive and desired brown matrix.
- Kingman Turquoise Mine (Arizona, USA) – Produces “high blue” turquoise with no matrix.
- Morenci Turquoise Mine (Arizona, USA) – Known for dark blue turquoise with pyrite matrix flecks.
Turquoise from these mines regularly fetches over $1,000 per carat, especially for high clarity, finely webbed matrix stones.
Most Valuable Color Saturation
Turquoise color saturation greatly impacts value. The most saturated and vibrant “sky blue” and “robin’s egg blue” turquoise commands the highest prices. Greens and greys are less desirable. Bright blue Sleeping Beauty turquoise can cost over $10,000 per carat.
Most Valuable Matrix Patterns
Turquoise matrix refers to the veining and markings that run through some stones. Certain patterns are highly desired:
- Spiderweb – Thin spiderweb matrix is rare and valuable in turquoise like Sleeping Beauty.
- Pyrite – Bright yellow pyrite flecks add interest.
- Waterweb – Delicate watery veins running through the stone.
Stones valued over $5,000 per carat often feature beautiful matrix patterns.
Largest Carat Weights
Larger turquoise cabochons over 50 carats can sell for over $10,000 per carat. More common pieces in the 5-20 carat range still fetch $1,500-$3,000 per carat for rare varieties.
| Carat Weight | Price Per Carat |
|---|---|
| Under 5 carats | $100-$500 |
| 5-20 carats | $1,500-$3,000 |
| 20-50 carats | $5,000-$10,000 |
| Over 50 carats | $10,000+ |
In general, larger untreated turquoise gems over 20 carats from famous mines can sell for over $5,000 per carat.
Most Famous Examples
Some of the most expensive turquoise sales to date include:
- A 221 carat “Bisbee Blue” turquoise cabochon sold for $925,000 in 2019, over $4,000 per carat.
- A 28.55 carat Sleeping Beauty turquoise cabochon sold for $285,000 in 2015, almost $10,000 per carat.
- A 15 carat emerald cut turquoise from the Number 8 Mine sold for $150,000 in 2021, $10,000 per carat.
These represent some of the highest per carat prices paid for exceptionally large, high clarity turquoise gems.
Factors Affecting Value
Several key factors impact turquoise value:
- Color – Vivid blue and blue-green colors are most valued. Green and grey is cheaper.
- Mine of Origin – Famous US mines like Sleeping Beauty command higher prices.
- Matrix – Spiderweb and pyrite matrix patterns add value.
- Carat Weight – Gems over 20 carats fetch exponentially higher per carat prices.
- Cut Quality – Well cut cabochons or faceted stones are preferred.
- Treatment – Untreated natural turquoise is more expensive.
By these metrics, a large, untreated “robins egg” blue turquoise cabochon with spiderweb matrix from the Sleeping Beauty Mine would be the most prized and expensive turquoise.
Natural vs Treated Turquoise
Natural turquoise is almost always more valuable than treated stones. Treatments like waxing, stabilizing, dying, and reconstitution can negatively impact value. Natural untreated turquoise maintains the highest prices.
Jewelry vs Loose Stones
Turquoise jewelry typically sells for less than loose turquoise cabochons on a per carat basis. However, well designed jewelry pieces by famous jewelers can still command high prices due to artistic value.
Costly Turquoise Jewelry
While loose turquoise gems sell for more per carat, turquoise jewelry can still fetch high prices. Some expensive examples include:
- A turquoise gold bracelet by Tiffany & Co sold for $653,000 at auction in 2019.
- A turquoise and diamond necklace by Cartier sold for $3.87 million in 2014.
- A 150 carat turquoise cabochon ring by David Webb sold for $200,000.
These demonstrate the high valuations possible for one-of-a-kind turquoise jewelry by top designers.
Conclusion
Natural untreated turquoise from famous American mines like Sleeping Beauty and Number 8, showing vivid blue color and distinctive matrix patterns, and cut into large cabochons exceeding 20 carats are the most prized and expensive on the market. These can fetch up to $10,000 per carat based on rarity and demand. Value is further increased for named, well-crafted jewelry pieces containing expensive turquoise gems. While many factors affect price, exceptional turquoise meeting all the highest criteria consistently reaches the top end of the market in terms of price per carat for this beautiful blue gem.
