Bisbee Turquoise

Bisbee turquoise takes its name from the historic copper mining town of Bisbee, Arizona, where it was recovered as a byproduct of the massive Lavender Pit copper operation. Because it came out of one of the largest copper mines in the country, Bisbee turquoise reached the market earlier and in larger quantities than many other American varieties, which is part of why it became so well known among collectors early on.

Bisbee turquoise is best known for its deep, almost royal blue color, often set off by a fine, dark "chocolate brown" matrix that gives each stone a distinctive webbed or dendritic pattern. Some Bisbee material also occurs in beautiful dark green tones. The stone is naturally hard, which allows it to take a brilliant polish without stabilization, and that natural hardness combined with its color has made it one of the standard-bearers for high-grade American turquoise.

Because the Bisbee copper mine's turquoise deposits have been largely depleted, and because copper mining operations have priority over gem material, genuine Bisbee turquoise is increasingly hard to find. Most of what circulates today comes from old stashes and collections rather than fresh production, which has only added to its desirability. Bisbee turquoise has a long history in vintage Native American silverwork, prized by Navajo, Zuni, and other Southwestern silversmiths for its striking color contrast against sterling silver.

When shopping for vintage Native American jewelry featuring Bisbee turquoise, look for that signature deep blue color paired with a fine brown matrix — it's one of the clearest visual signatures in the turquoise world. Explore our Gemstone Guide to learn more about the American turquoise varieties used throughout our collection.