Turkizite Value
Have you heard of Turkizite? A rare, gem-quality diaspore from Turkey; few ever have the chance to witness the beauty of this stone in person. Why? Simply put, many are overpaying for this unique jewel. Our guide tells you what to look for so that you never have to worry about paying too much when adding Turkish diaspore to your collection.
There are four quality factors. These are Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat Weight. Each impacts the overall Turkizite cost, though Color is perhaps the most important.
Table of Contents
- Is Turkizite Real?
- Where is Diaspore Found?
- Color
- Clarity
- Cut
- Carat Weight
- Turkizite Jewelry at Shop LC
- Further Reading
Is Turkizite Real?
Turkizite is a genuine gemstone that undergoes no additional treatment. Its beauty is precious and rare because what you see is what you get. It is a terrific choice for collectors who prefer discovering what Mother Nature creates.
Other Names for Turkizite
Gem-quality diaspore is incredibly rare and unusual to find. As a result, you might discover Turkish diaspore sold under various brands or trade names. The most popular are Csarite™, ottomanite, and zultanite®. However, these are all Turkish diaspore!
Where is Diaspore Found?
As a single-source gemstone, Turkizite only comes from Anatolia, Turkey. While the mineral diaspore can be common worldwide, gemmy material is rare. And gem-quality material is even more scarce! Therefore, collectors emphasize adding this precious Turkish jewel to their collection; you can’t find it elsewhere!
Mining originally began in the 80s, with slow growth. It isn’t a stone you’ll easily find in jewelry stores. Currently, only a handful of vendors deal in this unique gem. And, by their estimates, current mining rates suggest that less than 30 years of supply remains.
Color
When calculating the value of colored gemstones, Color is the most crucial factor. Why? Unlike traditional diamonds, we choose colored stones based on the beauty of their color, of course! The hue, tone, and saturation make it an object of desire.
A Turkizite stone is on the short list of color-changing gemstones. A single gem can present multiple colors, ranging from kiwi green, lavender-blue, champagne pink, or a rich dark red!
These gems are pleochroic. That’s a mouthful, but what it means is that the jewel’s color can vary based on the direction you’re viewing from. Turning it around, you should be able to glimpse flashes and transitions between several hues.
Two factors impact the Color of this stone – size, and lighting. Smaller stones tend to exhibit softer colors and more subtle changes. Meanwhile, larger stones display a more pronounced effect, and the color is more intense.
Secondly, lighting can impact how we see these colors. Typically, this differs between indoor and outdoor lighting or incandescent and fluorescent lighting. This can cause specific colors to appear or to appear more prominently. Mixed lighting might show a blend of the potential colors your Turkizite stone contains.
Clarity
Another essential quality factor is Clarity. This represents the visibility of any inclusions present in your gem. You can see an inclusion within the gem, either with the unaided eye or under ten-times magnification.
The finest examples of Turkish diaspore should be eye-clean, meaning there are no visible inclusions when looking at the stone unaided. In rare cases, inclusions are desirable if they result in a cat’s eye Turkizite. In these cases, long, aligning inclusions create a cat’s eye effect in the finished gem. We also call the cat’s eye phenomenon chatoyancy.
Otherwise, inclusions exist in these gemstones. If the color remains good, they are acceptable. It’s important to decide for yourself if this is a deal breaker or not.
Cut
A Turkizite gemstone is typically faceted. In sporadic cases, it is formed en cabochon for specimens showing the cat’s eye effect described above.
Cutting requires seasoned expertise, as gem-quality material is subject to cleavage. Even for a skilled gem cutter, it is a challenge. All the while, they must avoid inclusions in the material while producing the best possible stone.
Only a tiny amount ever becomes a finished gemstone. About 4.5% of material transitions from rough material to finished Turkizite jewelry!
Some material is set into jewelry in the Polki style. However, few retailers currently offer this option for Turkish diaspore.
Carat Weight
The size of the finished stone heavily drives Turkizite price per carat. You see, not only is it challenging to take a stone from rough to ready, but also fewer stones of large size are available. Many promising gems won’t complete the lapidary process, unfortunately.
Gemstones that are three carats or larger are scarcer and command higher prices. The same is true for stone measuring larger than 6 x 4 millimeters.
Turkizite Jewelry at Shop LC
Are you ready to discover Turkizite for yourself? At Shop LC, our long-standing partnerships within the gem and jewelry industry allow us to offer the best prices on gemstones and jewelry, all backed by the Lowest Price Guarantee.
We keep prices low by sourcing directly from the mines or vendors closely associated with them and making our own jewelry. This means a low cost to you – you have to see the difference you pay with the middleman markup!
Further Reading
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Updated March 2024.