Sleeping Beauty Mine Turquoise is perhaps one of the most recognizable and desired turquoises from around the world, and it hails from right here in the USA. The mine is located in Globe, AZ, and was one of the most well-known producers of turquoise because of its pristine sky blue or robin's egg blue color and its lack of matrix which is found in most turquoises. The color rivals even the finest of Persian Turquoise, which is coveted by many gem collectors, but exceedingly difficult to find. It's not to say all Sleeping Beauty Mine Turquoise is of equal quality, that is most certainly not the case. The color can range from a lighter blue to a rich blue and there can be traces of matrix in some specimens, but the most desired quality of this exquisite gem will take your breath away with its purity and brightness.
The mine itself is named for the horizon and mountain range it sits on, from a distance, many believe it to look as though a sleeping woman is resting with her arms crossed, just as the princess once did in the fairytale.
This turquoise was believed to be originally mined by the Native Americans during the Anasazi period, then the beloved gem was said to be rediscovered by accident as miners were looking for copper and gold back in the 1970s and 80s. Where there is an abundance of copper you can often find treasures such as the extraordinary Sleeping Beauty Turquoise. Even in its rough form, the color is something so striking it would stop the finest of gem connoisseurs or even someone simply strolling by, in their tracks. It quickly became one of the most desired turquoise in the world because of its pristine color and beauty. However, throughout the years copper has become the primary focus of the mine and the gemstone is no longer, which means the supply has become increasingly limited as they ceased mining the turquoise in the fall of 2012. Whenever a mine stops production of a gem, it is most likely the gem may see an increase in its demand and at times its value.
The United States has not always been as known in the jewelry world as well as other regions, we don't have Burma's Rubies, Tanzania's Tanzanite, Columbia's Emeralds, and for many years, we did not have much that was known worldwide. What allowed the US jewelry market to stand out is often considered to be our beautifully, often hand-crafted, southwest style jewelry, and not just the jewelry but one of the gemstones often featured within these gorgeously executed pieces, Sleeping Beauty Mine Turquoise.
Turquoise is something one can easily dress up or dress down, and the color from Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is second to none, it is extraordinary. It is a color that adds an instant brightness to any outfit in any season! No matter your hair color or your skin color it is the perfect color to add a refreshing pop of brightness to your overall look.
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