Red turquoise is not turquoise. No natural red turquoise exists. It is white howlite or magnesite dyed red, and the dye is the whole color.
See it as
Howlite (calcium borosilicate) or magnesite (magnesium carbonate), dyed red
Red Turquoise
Turquesa roja
- Palette
- Red Black
- Mined in
- Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Iran, Mexico
- Hardness
- Mohs 3.0–4.5 ?
- See-through
- opaque
- Known since
- 1868
- Named for
- turquoise, which the dyed stone imitates
- Also sold as
- Dyed red howlite, Dyed red magnesite
- Intention
- Strength
- Looking for
- Courage Confidence and self-worth Communication
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Red turquoise is not turquoise: it is a pale, soft stone, usually howlite or magnesite, dyed red and sometimes resin-filled.
In our pieces · 1See the piece ↓
1 CENTIMETER
Dyed red 'turquoise' beads are most often howlite, whose rare crystals reach only about 1 centimeter.
1,500-2,000 °C
Magnesite, another stone dyed to mimic turquoise, is fired at roughly 1,500 to 2,000 degrees Celsius to make furnace-lining magnesia.
What it is
Red beads with a web of darker veins. 'Red turquoise' is a trade name only: the beads are white howlite or magnesite dyed red and contain no turquoise.
What gives it its color
The red is a dye: these beads are usually white howlite or magnesite, which are porous and soak up color, and no natural red turquoise is described. True turquoise is blue to green from copper and iron.
Where it comes from
Howlite was first found at Windsor, Nova Scotia, and in Tick Canyon, California. Magnesite is mined in places such as Brazil and Salem in India. Where the dyed beads are sourced is not documented.
In history
Red turquoise is a trade name, and the dyed beads are usually howlite, a white porous borate first described in 1868 from a gypsum quarry near Windsor, Nova Scotia, where miners found it a nuisance. It was named for the chemist Henry How, and its pores take dye so readily that it is often colored to pass for turquoise.
What's said about it
The name borrows from turquoise, which in crystal lore is the stone for strength, protection and speaking up. People who choose the red version often want something bold to wear on the wrist.
The dye can lift, so keep it dry and away from perfume. Wear it on the wrist or keep one in a pocket.
How people wear or keep it: On the wrist, in a pocket, or in a bag.
In crystal practice
Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: on the wrist, in a pocket, in a bag. People reach for it when they want courage, confidence and self-worth, communication, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
Also calledDyed red howlite, Dyed red magnesite
Care
- Soft (about 3.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale) and porous, so keep it away from harder stones.
- Avoid soaking, perfume, acetone and nail polish remover, which can lift dye.
- Wipe with a dry or barely damp soft cloth.
- Keep out of long direct sun in case the dye fades.
How to tell what you have
- Sold under this name the bead may be white howlite or magnesite dyed red; it contains no turquoise and the stone varies by lot.
- Rub a hidden spot with a swab of nail polish remover: color on the swab means dye. Look for very even red and dye at the drill hole.
- It is light and soft (about 3.5 to 4.5), and magnesite fizzes in hot acid.
What sets the price
This is not turquoise: the price follows what the bead actually is in that lot (howlite or magnesite dyed red), how even and well-set the dye is, and bead size. Both stones are inexpensive, and better dye jobs hold up longer.
Rules and sourcing
Red turquoise is not turquoise: it is usually howlite or magnesite, dyed red and sometimes resin-filled. A seller should say what the bead actually is under the FTC jewelry guides and disclose the dye.
Questions people ask at our table
Is red turquoise real?
No. Turquoise is blue to green by nature. Red beads sold as turquoise are, per the sources we read, howlite or magnesite dyed red.
Is it howlite or magnesite?
Both are sold dyed in red and look alike. The owner should confirm which one the supplier sold.
Will the dye come off?
A swab with acetone will pick up color from dyed stone, so keep solvents away. Sun and sweat may also affect it.
How is it different from turquoise?
It is softer (about 3 to 4, against 5 to 6), lighter in weight, and its color is very even and saturated rather than natural.
Where do the beads come from?
We could not confirm this for dyed red beads. Howlite itself is found near Windsor and Iona in Nova Scotia and in California.
Our red turquoise pieces
Stay in the loop
Sign up to hear about new product drops, upcoming events, and the latest from Peritik. No spam, just the good stuff.