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.
Hubei Turquoise 8x10-9x14mm Blue Nugget AA Grade - 15-16 Inch
Original price
$66.00
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Original price
$66.00
Original price
$66.00
$66.00
-
$66.00
Hubei Turquoise is sourced from Hubei Province in Northern China, one of the most recognized turquoise-producing regions in the world. This materia...
View full details
Original price
$66.00
-
Original price
$66.00
Original price
$66.00
$66.00
-
$66.00
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.