Ask a Western jewelry buyer to name an American turquoise and there's a good chance they'll say Kingman. It's one of the best-known turquoise names in the United States, and much of the turquoise in today's Western-style jewelry traces back to it. This guide covers what retailers should know about Kingman turquoise jewelry wholesale: where the stone comes from, what it looks like, how it's treated, and how to describe it accurately on your tags.
All of our stones are sourced from Kingman, Arizona and are stabilized.
Where Kingman turquoise comes from
The Kingman turquoise mine sits in the Mineral Park district of the Cerbat Mountains in Mohave County, Arizona, roughly 14 miles northwest of the town of Kingman. Turquoise there occurs in a copper-mining district, which is typical: GIA describes turquoise as a copper aluminum phosphate, so it forms where copper is present in the host rock.
The Colbaugh family has held the turquoise rights at the mine since the early 1960s. The business, Colbaugh Processing, mines, treats and cuts turquoise and sells it to jewelry makers and wholesalers.
What Kingman turquoise looks like
Color
Kingman is best known for bright sky-blue to medium blue color. Some material is greener, and the mine has produced distinctive green turquoise too, but the classic Kingman look most customers picture is a clear blue.
Matrix
Matrix is the host rock that shows as veins or patches in the stone. Kingman produces several looks:
- Clean blue with little or no matrix.
- Black matrix, with dark veining through the blue.
- Spiderweb, a fine web of matrix lines. See our Kingman Spiderweb Turquoise line.
Matrix doesn't mean lower quality. Many customers specifically seek out spiderweb patterns, and every piece is unique.
How Kingman turquoise is treated
Most turquoise is porous. Untreated, it can be chalky, absorb skin oils and change color, and it may crumble during cutting. That's why the large majority of turquoise in jewelry is treated, and Kingman is no exception. Rock & Gem reported that about 95% of the mine's rough is either stabilized or pressed into composite bricks.
Stabilized
Stabilization impregnates porous turquoise with a clear resin so it's durable enough to cut and wear. The Kingman mine says its turquoise is "stabilized but never color treated." Our Kingman Turquoise line is stabilized, with no color added. For more detail, see our guide to stabilized turquoise.
Pressed composites
The mine also presses turquoise nuggets and fragments into bricks bonded with resin, often with a bronze-colored matrix running through. These composites are cut into stones in a wide range of looks. Some contain only turquoise (Kingman Turquoise & Bronze); others include spiny oyster shell, and some are dyed. Our composite turquoise guide explains them.
Dyed lines
Some Kingman products are dyed, including the purple and lime-green Mohave lines. These are real Kingman turquoise with added color, and they must be described as dyed. See our Mohave Purple and Green guide.
Why Kingman is popular with Western retailers
- Recognizable name. Customers often know "Kingman" as an American turquoise.
- Consistent supply. A long-running mine and processor means steadier availability than many small mines.
- Range. From clean blue to spiderweb to colorful composites, one source can cover a whole table.
- Clear disclosure. The mine publishes how each line is treated, which makes accurate tagging easier.
How to describe Kingman turquoise on tags
Accurate tags protect you and build trust. Some examples:
- "Kingman turquoise, stabilized (no color added)"
- "Kingman Spiderweb turquoise, stabilized"
- "Kingman Turquoise & Bronze composite, stabilized"
- "Mohave Purple: Kingman turquoise, dyed and stabilized, with bronze-colored matrix"
Avoid "natural" for stabilized, composite or dyed material. The FTC Jewelry Guides (16 CFR 23.22) expect sellers to disclose treatments that affect value or care, and stabilization and dyeing both qualify. Also avoid any suggestion that the jewelry itself is Native American–made unless it actually is; Kingman is a stone source, not a statement about who made the jewelry.
Caring for Kingman turquoise jewelry
Stabilized turquoise is far more durable than untreated stone, but it still deserves care:
- Remove before washing, swimming, cleaning or applying lotion.
- Wipe with a soft dry cloth.
- No soaking, and no ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
- Store separately to avoid scratches.
Our care guide for retailers has printable care cards.
Kingman turquoise designs we make
Our classic blue designs include the Kingman Turquoise Oval Bar Necklace, an everyday seller, and the Kingman Turquoise Cluster Flower Necklace, a statement piece. Every design comes in Brass, German Silver or Copper, unplated or silver-plated, so you can match your store's style.
Matching Kingman blue with metals
Kingman's bright blue works with every metal we offer, but each gives a different feel:
- Silver-plated finishes and German silver give the classic, crisp Western look that most customers picture.
- Natural copper warms the blue and suits rustic, earthy styling.
- Natural brass gives a golden, vintage contrast that's especially popular with boho customers.
If you're stocking Kingman turquoise for the first time, start with silver-tone finishes and add a warm metal once you see how your customers respond.
Building a Kingman color story on your table
Because Kingman produces so many looks, you can build an entire table from one source and still give customers plenty of choice. A simple structure:
- Classic blue anchor. Clean blue Kingman turquoise in a cluster necklace and a bar necklace, in silver-tone finishes.
- Matrix accent. A few spiderweb or black-matrix pieces for customers who want something with more character.
- Warm contrast. Spiny Oyster & Kingman Turquoise composites, where orange and purple shell tones sit beside the blue.
- Seasonal color. A small group of dyed lines, such as Mohave Purple or pastel Dahlia composites, rotated by season.
Repeating the Kingman name across the table also gives your staff a simple story to tell: these stones all come from one Arizona source, each with its treatment clearly disclosed.
Common customer questions about Kingman turquoise
"Is it real turquoise?" Yes. Kingman turquoise is real turquoise from Arizona. It's stabilized for durability, which is standard for most turquoise sold in jewelry.
"Why is the color so even?" Kingman is known for bright, even blues. Stabilization can deepen color slightly, but our Kingman turquoise has no color added.
"Is every stone the same?" No. Matrix and color vary from stone to stone, so each piece is unique.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Kingman turquoise mine?
In the Mineral Park district of the Cerbat Mountains, Mohave County, Arizona, about 14 miles northwest of Kingman.
Is Kingman turquoise natural?
Kingman turquoise is real turquoise, but nearly all of it sold for jewelry is treated. Ours is stabilized with clear resin and has no color added, so we describe it as stabilized rather than natural.
What is Kingman spiderweb turquoise?
It's Kingman turquoise with a fine web of host-rock matrix running through it. Patterns vary, so every stone is different.
Are Mohave Purple and Mohave Green Kingman turquoise?
They're made from Kingman turquoise that has been dyed and stabilized. They must always be described as dyed.
