On a sweltering summer day, the web series "Yu Zui" not only made its lead actor Zhang Yishan a star but also ignited enthusiasm for the plot thread that runs throughout the entire series. —— Turquoise has once again become a hot commodity amid a market downturn in which the value of traditional collectible items has plummeted. Having entered the collectibles market over a decade ago, turquoise has long been a niche collector’s item compared to more established favorites like traditional Hetian jade and jadeite. However, with the recent surge in popularity of collectible accessories and the non-renewable nature of turquoise, this gemstone has gradually gained greater attention—and its price has skyrocketed by more than a hundredfold. High-end turquoise specimens now routinely fetch prices exceeding those of gold, with top-quality pieces reaching as much as 10,000 yuan per gram. The growing market recognition and soaring prices have also led to an alarming rise in counterfeit turquoise. Beyond the most common methods—such as dyeing and resin impregnation—imitations made from magnesite are proving especially difficult to detect. So how can one navigate the murky waters of the collectibles market and successfully build a meaningful turquoise collection? ?

　　 Market conditions are unpredictable, yet prices are rising against the trend.

　　Turquoise has been wildly popular in the collecting market for over a decade, and "wenwan"—collectible antique toys—has evolved from an initially niche hobby into today’s widespread pastime. Over the past ten years, numerous types of wenwan have emerged in the market, yet most have been fleeting trends that failed to endure. Turquoise, however, has defied this pattern: not only has its market continued to heat up, but its prices have also risen steadily, showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.

　　2014 This year has been the hottest on record for turquoise prices, with prices rising within just one year. 20% Compared to the sluggish and stagnant conditions of the gold and jade markets back then, the situation today is strikingly different. At that time, many sellers and collectors were deeply concerned about a severe bubble in turquoise prices and feared a potential market crash. Yet, up until this year, the turquoise market has continued its steady upward trajectory—though it hasn't seen any dramatic surges, it still shows no sign of halting its climb.

　　What exactly are the reasons behind the continuous rise in turquoise prices? ? First and foremost, it’s inseparable from the tactics of hunger marketing. In recent years, the Shiyan government has tightened its control over turquoise resources, leading to a sustained contraction in the supply of raw stones from the origin region. Yet despite this, domestic investment enthusiasm has not waned—it has actually risen further. 2014 This year, the Hubei Shiyan Turquoise Mineral Resources Rectification and Cleanup Task Force—the benchmark for the domestic turquoise market—confirmed that the county has achieved remarkable results in cracking down on illegal mining activities. 180 More than a dozen turquoise mines have all been shut down. It is reported that the supply of raw turquoise stones has significantly decreased, causing prices to soar dramatically compared to previous years.

　　Meanwhile, as the market for cultural and antique collectibles has surged, more and more people have joined this circle. Turquoise has long been highly prized as an accessory in the cultural and antique collecting world; therefore, as the market for such collectibles continues to expand, the number of turquoise enthusiasts is steadily growing. “ Fewer meats, more wolves. ” The situation has further driven up the price of turquoise.

　　Like jade and emerald, turquoise is also graded into different levels. Among these, high-end, premium-quality turquoise has seen the largest price increases, while mid- and low-end products have experienced relatively stable growth. In the era of mass collecting, turquoise can both satisfy the high-end clientele’s pursuit of exquisite pieces and appeal to ordinary consumers who enjoy casually handling it in their daily lives—thus, its market performance has remained robust and steadily upward, completely unaffected by market or economic fluctuations.

　　 “ High porcelain, high blue ” It is actually a false proposition.

　　In recent years, the market for cultural and antique collectibles has seen a skyrocketing surge in demand for turquoise—this trend has now spread throughout the entire turquoise community. Whether they’re knowledgeable or not, everyone seems to be talking about finding raw-mineral turquoise that’s high-gloss, intensely blue, unmodified, and untreated with wax—but in reality, very few people truly understand turquoise.

　　Currently, China is the country with the largest reserves of turquoise in the world. The world’s turquoise reserves are... 70% In China, Chinese turquoise. 70% It is also concentrated within the territory of Zhushan County in Shiyan, Hubei Province. Therefore, Zhushan County has been hailed by the state as... “ The Hometown of Chinese Turquoise ” , the Yunyang area of Hubei Province is known as “ The Land of Emeralds in the East ”。

　　It is understood that the annual production of turquoise from Yun County currently remains at... 18 Around tons, with the highest annual output. 27 Tons. Merchants from both home and abroad frequently visit Yun County and Zhushan to purchase turquoise. Due to limited resources, the local government has begun to strictly regulate turquoise mining, making it virtually impossible for ordinary collectors to get up close and personal with this precious gemstone. Precisely because of this, this place has become a coveted destination for many collectors of cultural antiques and curios. “ Scenic spot ”。

　　In the antique and collectibles market, besides being concerned about the origin of turquoise, buyers most often talk about: “ No optimization ”、 “ Raw ore ” These two words.

　　In fact, raw turquoise isn't mysterious at all—it simply refers to turquoise stones that have undergone no processing whatsoever. All the enhanced turquoise available on the market is derived from raw turquoise stones that have been treated. Now, driven by media promotion and public opinion, most inexperienced and uninformed turquoise enthusiasts claim they only want raw, unenhanced turquoise. To cater to this trend... “ Xiao Bai ” In response to buyer demand, sellers have been enthusiastically promoting their products as “raw ore” and “unmodified.” In reality, turquoise enhancement isn’t as scary as it seems.

　　Because turquoise has relatively low hardness, optimization treatment is performed to ensure the integrity of the turquoise during the manufacturing process and prevent it from cracking. This treatment does not alter the turquoise’s original structure, so optimized turquoise is perfectly safe to purchase.

　　In addition to the two commonly used terms in the antique collecting world—“raw ore” and “unoptimized”—turquoise also has a specific adjective: “high-ceramic, high-blue.” Collectors who frequently visit antique markets surely know that turquoise described as “high-ceramic, high-blue” commands an extremely high price. However, industry experts caution that turquoise... “ High-porcelain ” In fact, it’s a false proposition. Jin Xin, a specially appointed expert on Beijing antique collectibles, once stated in an article that... “ As for finished turquoise pieces featuring high-porosity blue or raw ore characteristics, the price per carat generally starts at a thousand yuan—or even more than ten thousand yuan for just a single bracelet or pendant. However, the notion of "high-porosity turquoise" is actually a false premise. ”。

　　High-porcelain is merely a concept with no unified standard for determination. Moreover, turquoise itself isn't particularly hard, and turquoise with high porosity is extremely rare.

　　Imitations, color copies, and counterfeit products are everywhere.

　　The continuously rising prices of turquoise have led to an increasing number of market irregularities. From the initial practices of optimization and waxing to later techniques such as artificial wire embedding and artificial dyeing, and now even outright counterfeits, it’s safe to say that counterfeit turquoise products are ubiquitous in the market.

　　Currently, the main imitation on the turquoise market is a type called... “ Dolomite ” The ore is a carbonate mineral. It is abundantly found in regions such as Inner Mongolia in China and is relatively inexpensive. After being dyed and impregnated with resin, it can be used to imitate various turquoise products. These imitation pieces boast vivid and rich colors, uniform coloration, and significantly lower prices compared to genuine turquoise products of comparable quality. Many collectors new to the antique and collectibles market have fallen into this trap.

　　The "iron lines" are the most distinctive natural feature of turquoise, and many people rely on them to determine whether a piece of turquoise is genuine or fake. However, this is actually a common misconception. Many counterfeiters use turquoise microparticles and blue powder materials, which they compress under specific temperature and pressure conditions, then artificially add "iron lines" to deceive consumers. Therefore, even the presence of iron lines does not guarantee authenticity.

　　Not long ago, a new type of antique collectible called “lemon pine” appeared in Beijing’s antique market. This item features a pale yellow color and a texture similar to turquoise, making it a favorite among teams specializing in the falsification of turquoise. In fact, this is a natural mineral known as magnesite—completely unrelated to turquoise. Its price is relatively low, ranging from just a few yuan to around ten yuan per gram; even the most expensive specimens fetch only about forty to fifty yuan per gram—far below the price range of genuine turquoise.

　　Some people say the most fundamental reason for the proliferation of counterfeit turquoise in the market is that its market price is simply too high. Yet, throughout the years, there has been a consensus within the antique collecting community that turquoise’s value should be brought back to its true worth. However, the turquoise market is highly volatile and impossible to artificially influence. At the same time, nowadays everyone is blindly pursuing raw stones—stones that are unprocessed, unoptimized, and without any waxing treatments. “ Public opinion ” Products completely ignore their own needs, and in order to cater to mainstream consumer demand, merchants have consequently produced numerous counterfeit versions.

　　Industry insiders point out that the price of turquoise generally corresponds closely to its quality—following the principle that you get what you pay for. Remember: cheap goods are rarely good, and high-quality items won't be cheap. If you come across turquoise in the market that boasts beautiful color, excellent quality, and a low price, you must be extra cautious.