Turquoise Jewelry Gift Guide — Picks for Every Budget
Turquoise is the gift I’d give any western woman whose taste I half know. It goes with denim, it goes with black, it goes to church and to the rodeo. The trick is buying the right piece at the right price, and not paying real-stone money for dyed rock. This guide is sorted by budget, cheapest first, with what to look for at each level.
Some of these links pay the blog a little commission. It doesn’t change the price, and it’s never why something made the list.
Before You Buy: Three Words to Know
Natural turquoise has only been cut and polished. Stabilized turquoise has been treated with clear resin so softer stone holds up; most turquoise sold today is stabilized, and that’s fine if it’s labeled. Block or reconstituted turquoise is ground-up stone or a dyed look-alike pressed into shape, and it shouldn’t cost much. An honest seller will tell you which one you’re buying. If they won’t say, buy elsewhere.
Look for “sterling” or “925” on the silver, too. “Silver tone” means it isn’t silver.
Under $50
1. Small Turquoise Studs
The safest place to start. Studs go under a hat and with everything in her closet. Stabilized stone is normal at this price.
2. A Thin Stacking Ring
A thin sterling band with one small stone adds to rings she already wears instead of competing with them. Ask a friend or family member for her ring size, or buy an adjustable band.
$50 to $150
3. A Turquoise Pendant on a Sterling Chain
A pendant sits nicely in the open collar of a pearl-snap shirt. An 18-inch chain suits most necklines. Look at the bezel, the silver rim that holds the stone: it should hug the stone evenly with no gaps.
4. Turquoise Drop Earrings
For a woman who already wears studs and wants a bit more for weekends. Keep the drop under two inches if she wears a hat; longer earrings catch the brim.
5. A Bolo Tie
Bolos aren’t only for men. Worn loose over a white shirt, one looks sharp on a woman. Good gift for the one who likes to be a little different.
$150 to $400
6. A Sterling Cuff
A cuff is the piece she’ll wear every day for twenty years. Hand-stamped silver with a few good stones beats a thin cuff with a lot of tiny ones. Cuffs bend a little to fit; she shouldn’t force one open wide over and over.
7. A Statement Ring
One big stone on a heavy band. If she wears a stack of thin rings, this is what she’ll put in the middle of it.
Heirloom: $400 and Up
8. A Vintage Piece
Older pieces carry history, and good ones hold their value. Buy from a dealer who’ll put the age, the stone and the maker (if known) in writing. Ask how they know the age. Signs of real wear on the back and an old hand-finished clasp are good signs; a perfect, shiny back on a “1940s” piece is not.
9. An Artist-Made Piece
A piece made by a named Native American silversmith is about the most meaningful turquoise gift there is. Buy from the artist, a tribal-owned shop or a gallery that names the maker. Federal law, the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, makes it illegal to sell something as Indian-made when it isn’t, so ask the question and expect a straight answer.
10. A Squash Blossom Necklace
The big one. A squash blossom necklace is a lifetime piece, and a real one costs accordingly. If she’s been eyeing one for years, this is the Christmas to stop waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stabilized turquoise real?
Yes. It’s real turquoise treated with resin so it holds up. It’s worth less than natural, untreated stone, and it should be priced and labeled that way.
Can she wear turquoise every day?
Yes, with a little care. Take it off for dishes, swimming and lotion. Turquoise is porous, and oils and chemicals change its color over time.
What if I don’t know her ring size?
Buy earrings, a pendant or a cuff instead. Or borrow a ring she wears on the right finger and have a jeweler size it.
Give It with a Note
Whatever you choose, write down where it came from: the shop, the stone, the maker if you know. That card becomes part of the piece. For gifts that aren’t jewelry, see our cowgirl gifts under $50 and the full cowgirl gift guide. Sadie swears by a turquoise stack for concerts; I’ll let her tell you about that one.
Questions about a piece you’re looking at? Ask me in the comments — I answer.
— love, Dottie Rae
