Bisbee Turquoise is one of the most collected varieties of turquoise in the world. Similarly, there are several types that are doppelgangers for Bisbee. The example we look at is Red Skin from China. Notably, this variety of turquoise attaches itself to a red host rock, similar to Bisbee.
To be sure, you want to acquaint yourself to this variety, as it is much less valuable than Bisbee. As a matter of fact, you can study the different angles of the example below. We visit Santa Fe this summer. Consequently, we see a Chinese Red Skin necklace in a very prominent shop. This necklace’s tag reads “Bisbee” and is priced at $30,000!
Secondly, this variety is almost always stabilized. In addition, the red and brown matrix is close to Bisbee in appearance, but not identical.
Similarly, another Turquoise that people mistake for Bisbee Turquoise is Persian. Contrastingly, Persian is often cut and shaped into a “High” dome (cabochon) overseas. The shape is cut into a larger dome than American cutters typically create. Persian comes from a number of mines, in now, what is modern day Iran. Consequently, the classic black and dark brown matrix renders the blue even bluer.
In conclusion, I tell customers that the host rock of Persian has a shiny, metallic appearance, when you compare it to Bisbee.
Tucson Turquoise since 1993
