Turquoise Gemstone Beads
Dakota Stones curates one of the widest turquoise bead selections on the market—everything from Arizona’s famed Sleeping Beauty sky-blue rounds to the chocolate-matrix patterns of Kingman, the sea-foam hues of Campitos and Elisa, and the richly veined material from China’s Hubei province. We stock multiple shapes and sizes—heishi, nuggets, rounds and rondelles—so designers can match color and matrix across an entire suite of pieces.
Geologically, turquoise forms when mineral-rich groundwater percolates through aluminous host rock and copper deposits, replacing pockets of material over thousands of years. The result is a hydrated copper-aluminum phosphate revered since the Egyptians and Aztecs for its vivid, naturally waxy luster. Our inventory includes both untreated stones and carefully stabilized strands (clearly labeled) to ensure durability without sacrificing authentic color.
Whether you’re chasing the robin’s-egg tone of classic Southwestern jewelry or the intricate spiderweb matrix prized by collectors, you’ll find a strand here that fits. Mix turquoise with sterling silver for timeless desert style, pair it with coral for striking contrast, or use small heishi as accent spacers—the palette possibilities are as vast as the landscapes where these legendary stones are mined.
Sonoran Mountain Turquoise 7-8mm Nugget - 17-18 Inch
Original price
$308.00
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Original price
$308.00
Original price
$308.00
$308.00
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$308.00
Sonoran Mountain Turquoise is a high-quality turquoise variety mined in Sonora, Mexico. It often features a mix of vibrant blue and green hues, som...
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Original price
$308.00
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Original price
$308.00
Original price
$308.00
$308.00
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$308.00
Sonoran Mountain Turquoise 8-9mm Blue Nugget - 17-18 Inch
Original price
$619.00
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Original price
$619.00
Original price
$619.00
$619.00
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$619.00
Sonoran Mountain Turquoise is a high-quality turquoise variety mined in Sonora, Mexico. It often features a mix of vibrant blue and green hues, som...
View full details
Original price
$619.00
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Original price
$619.00
Original price
$619.00
$619.00
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$619.00
Sleeping Beauty 10mm Blue/Green Chip - 17-18 Inch
Original price
$123.00
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Original price
$123.00
Original price
$123.00
$123.00
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$123.00
Dakota Stones’ Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe, Arizona — famous for the outstanding robin’s egg blue color and...
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Original price
$123.00
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Original price
$123.00
Original price
$123.00
$123.00
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$123.00
Sleeping Beauty 8-11mm Chip - 17-18 Inch
Original price
$119.00
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Original price
$119.00
Original price
$119.00
$119.00
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$119.00
Dakota Stones’ Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe, Arizona — famous for the outstanding robin’s egg blue color and...
View full details
Original price
$119.00
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Original price
$119.00
Original price
$119.00
$119.00
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$119.00
Sonoran Gold Turquoise 3-4mm Pebble - 17-18 Inch
Original price
$228.00
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Original price
$228.00
Original price
$228.00
$228.00
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$228.00
Mined in Mexico near the city of Cananea this turquoise is relatively new to the industry. Unlike most turquoise, Sonoran Gold is not mined in vein...
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Original price
$228.00
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Original price
$228.00
Original price
$228.00
$228.00
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$228.00
Sonoran Mountain Turquoise 8-9mm Nugget - 17-18 Inch
Original price
$564.00
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Original price
$564.00
Original price
$564.00
$564.00
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$564.00
Sonoran Mountain Turquoise is a high-quality turquoise variety mined in Sonora, Mexico. It often features a mix of vibrant blue and green hues, som...
View full details
Original price
$564.00
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Original price
$564.00
Original price
$564.00
$564.00
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$564.00
Kingman Turquoise 3-4mm Blue/Green Pebble - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$91.00
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Original price
$91.00
Original price
$91.00
$91.00
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$91.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
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Original price
$91.00
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Original price
$91.00
Original price
$91.00
$91.00
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$91.00
Kingman Turquoise 6mm Blue Brown Rondelle - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$256.00
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Original price
$256.00
Original price
$256.00
$256.00
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$256.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$256.00
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Original price
$256.00
Original price
$256.00
$256.00
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$256.00
Kingman Turquoise 9x11-11x20mm Blue Brown Graduated Nugget - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$649.00
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Original price
$649.00
Original price
$649.00
$649.00
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$649.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
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Original price
$649.00
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Original price
$649.00
Original price
$649.00
$649.00
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$649.00
Lone Mountain Turquoise 4-6mm Nugget - 18 Inch
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$419.00
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Original price
$419.00
Original price
$419.00
$419.00
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$419.00
The Lone Mountain turquoise mine was rediscovered in 1920 by Lee Hand, a man known as the "turquoise king" of his day. It is considered rediscovere...
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Original price
$419.00
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Original price
$419.00
Original price
$419.00
$419.00
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$419.00
Kingman Turquoise 4-7mm Blue Green Long Drill Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$94.00
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Original price
$94.00
Original price
$94.00
$94.00
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$94.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$94.00
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Original price
$94.00
Original price
$94.00
$94.00
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$94.00
Kingman Turquoise 4mm Round Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$180.00
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Original price
$180.00
Original price
$180.00
$180.00
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$180.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$180.00
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Original price
$180.00
Original price
$180.00
$180.00
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$180.00
Kingman Turquoise 3-6mm Blue with Matrix Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$74.00
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Original price
$74.00
Original price
$74.00
$74.00
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$74.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$74.00
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Original price
$74.00
Original price
$74.00
$74.00
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$74.00
Kingman Turquoise 4-7mm Blue Green with Matrix Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$94.00
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Original price
$94.00
Original price
$94.00
$94.00
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$94.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$94.00
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Original price
$94.00
Original price
$94.00
$94.00
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$94.00
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise 7-11mm Blue Chip Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$307.00
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Original price
$307.00
Original price
$307.00
$307.00
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$307.00
Dakota Stones’ Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe, Arizona — famous for the outstanding robin’s egg blue color and...
View full details
Original price
$307.00
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Original price
$307.00
Original price
$307.00
$307.00
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$307.00
Kingman Turquoise 7-12x10-15mm Blue/Green/Brown Graduated Rondelle Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$397.00
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Original price
$397.00
Original price
$397.00
$397.00
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$397.00
Kingman turquoise, mined in the Acerbate Mountains near Kingman, Arizona, is renowned for its vibrant, intense blue hues, often featuring a black, ...
View full details
Original price
$397.00
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Original price
$397.00
Original price
$397.00
$397.00
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$397.00
Sleeping Beauty Turquouise 4-6mm Blue Chip Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$212.00
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Original price
$212.00
Original price
$212.00
$212.00
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$212.00
Dakota Stones’ Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe, Arizona — famous for the outstanding robin’s egg blue color and...
View full details
Original price
$212.00
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Original price
$212.00
Original price
$212.00
$212.00
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$212.00
Nacozari Turquoise 8-11mm Blue Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$65.00
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Original price
$65.00
Original price
$65.00
$65.00
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$65.00
Nacozari turquoise is a highly sought-after, now-rare gemstone from the Sonora region of Mexico, specifically near the town of Nacozari de García, ...
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Original price
$65.00
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Original price
$65.00
Original price
$65.00
$65.00
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$65.00
Nacozari Turquoise 7-10mm Blue Pebble Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$59.00
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Original price
$59.00
Original price
$59.00
$59.00
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$59.00
Nacozari turquoise is a highly sought-after, now-rare gemstone from the Sonora region of Mexico, specifically near the town of Nacozari de García, ...
View full details
Original price
$59.00
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Original price
$59.00
Original price
$59.00
$59.00
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$59.00
White Buffalo 6-8mm Chip Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$149.00
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Original price
$149.00
Original price
$149.00
$149.00
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$149.00
White Buffalo stone is a rare, white mineral predominantly composed of magnesite and quartz. Discovered in 1993, the only source for White Buffalo ...
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Original price
$149.00
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Original price
$149.00
Original price
$149.00
$149.00
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$149.00
White Buffalo 8x10mm Nugget Bead - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$419.00
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Original price
$419.00
Original price
$419.00
$419.00
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$419.00
White Buffalo stone is a rare, white mineral predominantly composed of magnesite and quartz. Discovered in 1993, the only source for White Buffalo ...
View full details
Original price
$419.00
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Original price
$419.00
Original price
$419.00
$419.00
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$419.00
About this stone
Color
BlueBlue-GreenGreen
Origin
USA (Arizona)USA (Nevada)China (Hubei)MexicoIran
Mohs hardness
5–6
Treatment categories
NaturalStabilizedComposite/Reconstituted
Industry-standard treatment
Stabilization
Mineral chemistry
Hydrated copper-aluminum phosphate
Crystal system
Triclinic
Stone family
Turquoise
Birthstone
December
Common cuts
RoundRondelleHeishiNuggetFaceted RondelleChip
Common sizes
3mm4mm6mm8mm10mm
Care notes
Avoid ultrasonic, steam, bleach, and household cleaners. Soft damp cloth only. Remove before swimming, gym, perfume, hand-washing.
Related stones
Lapis Lazuli, Coral, Amazonite, Larimar
Frequently asked questions
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Is your turquoise real, or is it dyed howlite?
Turquoise is hydrated copper-aluminum phosphate. Dyed howlite and dyed magnesite are common imitations sold as "turquoise" in the broader bead trade — those are different minerals entirely, not turquoise. Treatment category (Natural, Stabilized, Composite / Reconstituted) should be disclosed — ask before buying if a strand doesn't specify treatment or mineral identity. -
What does "stabilized" turquoise mean — is it fake?
Stabilized turquoise is turquoise that has been infused with clear epoxy resin under pressure to harden the naturally porous stone for jewelry use. It's color-stable and the industry-standard treatment for the vast majority of bead-grade material. It's distinct from composite/reconstituted material, which is bonded particles rather than treated whole stone. -
What's the difference between Sleeping Beauty, Kingman, and Hubei turquoise?
Sleeping Beauty (Arizona, mine closed 2012) is pure even sky-blue with little or no matrix — scarce and supply-constrained. Kingman (Arizona, active) covers the full Arizona range from clear blue to deep blue with bold matrix. Hubei (China, active) is the dominant commercial bead source — typically blue to blue-green with rich veining, almost always stabilized. -
Will the color change over time?
Stabilized turquoise is color-stable and will look much the same in five years as it does today. Untreated natural turquoise can shift slowly over years from skin oil and chemical contact — some designers and collectors prize this aging; others want consistent color, in which case stabilized is the right pick. -
How do I tell if turquoise is real?
Practical tests include weight (real turquoise feels denser than plastic or resin), a fingernail scratch on an inconspicuous spot (howlite at Mohs 3.5 will scratch easily; turquoise at 5–6 will not), a hot-needle test (plastic imitation will smell of melting plastic), and an acetone swab (dyed material will release color). The most reliable signal is buying from a seller that discloses treatment and origin per SKU.