Blue Thunder Turquoise
Posted by Nativo Arts on
Blue Thunder turquoise is one of Nevada's rarer and more elusive varieties, first found in only minimal quantity during the early 1980s. Because so little of it was ever recovered, genuine Blue Thunder material is seldom seen on the market today, and pieces featuring it are considered notable finds among serious collectors.
Blue Thunder turquoise is known for its intensely vivid blue color combined with a fine, evenly distributed spiderweb matrix in reddish-brown tones, occasionally shifting to black webbing in some stones. The consistency and fineness of the webbing across a stone is part of what made Blue Thunder so admired by contemporary jewelers when it was available — in its heyday, cabochons the size of a large egg were occasionally cut from the rough, though material of that size is essentially unheard of today.
Because supply has always been extremely limited, Blue Thunder turquoise is highly sought after by high-end jewelry makers and collectors who specialize in rare American varieties, and it rarely appears for sale even among specialty turquoise dealers.
If you come across a piece described as genuine Blue Thunder turquoise, it represents a true rarity in the turquoise world. Learn more about the gemstones featured in our collection in our Gemstone Guide.