Kingman Turquoise

Kingman Turquoise: An American Turquoise Classic

If there is one turquoise almost everyone eventually gets to know, it's Kingman.

Kingman Turquoise comes from the Kingman area of northwestern Arizona and is one of the most recognized names in American turquoise. It has been used in Native American jewelry for generations and continues to be a favorite among artists, collectors and anyone who simply loves a great piece of turquoise.

And there is a lot to love.

Kingman is known for beautiful blue color, but one of our favorite things about it is how much it can vary. You can find bright, clean sky blues, deeper blues, greens and stones filled with incredible matrix and spiderweb patterns.

That's what makes Kingman so much fun to collect.

You can own several pieces of Kingman Turquoise and have every one of them look completely different.

Why We Love Kingman Turquoise at Dakota Sky Stone

Our family has spent more than 55 years around turquoise, and Kingman is one of those stones we never get tired of.

It's beautiful, versatile and works with just about every kind of sterling silver jewelry you can imagine.

We work directly with mines, artists and trusted sources to bring authentic turquoise to Dakota Sky Stone, and when we're choosing Kingman, we aren't looking for every stone to look exactly alike.

We look for the ones that make us stop.

Sometimes that's a clean blue stone with almost no matrix. Sometimes it's a piece covered in dark spiderwebbing. Sometimes it's the shape, color or pattern that gives us an immediate idea for a design.

That's the beauty of natural turquoise.

There isn't one perfect Kingman stone.

The best one is usually the one you can't stop looking at.

What Does Kingman Turquoise Look Like?

Kingman Turquoise is probably best known for its blue color, ranging from soft sky blue to vivid and deeper shades of blue.

But don't expect every Kingman stone to look the same.

Depending on the material, you may see little to no visible matrix or beautiful brown, black and earthy matrix running through the stone. Some Kingman Turquoise develops intricate web-like patterns often described as spiderweb matrix.

That variation is one of the reasons Kingman works so beautifully in jewelry.

A clean blue Kingman stone can feel classic and timeless. Heavy matrix can give another piece a completely different, earthy Western feel. Spiderweb Kingman can become a statement all on its own.

Same turquoise name. Completely different personalities.

We love that.

Kingman Spiderweb Turquoise

If you're a turquoise collector, you've probably heard the words Kingman Spiderweb Turquoise.

Spiderweb refers to the fine lines of matrix that move across the surface of a turquoise stone, sometimes creating a pattern that looks almost like a web.

Great spiderweb turquoise has incredible character, and no two natural patterns are exactly alike.

For some collectors, the matrix is just as important as the blue.

Others want that beautiful clean Kingman color with hardly any matrix at all.

Neither is wrong.

Turquoise is personal, and that's one of the things we've always loved most about it.

Kingman Turquoise Rings, Bracelets, Necklaces & Earrings

Kingman is one of those stones that works in just about everything.

Our Kingman Turquoise collection can include rings, sterling silver cuffs and bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, heishi and larger one-of-a-kind statement pieces.

A smaller Kingman ring or pair of earrings can easily become something you wear every day.

A big Kingman cuff or cluster ring is a completely different story.

Those pieces don't need much help.

Put one on with denim and a white shirt and let the turquoise do the rest.

Kingman pendants are also one of our favorite ways to wear the stone because they pair beautifully with sterling silver chains and Navajo Pearls.

Kingman Turquoise & Navajo Pearls

Kingman Turquoise and Navajo Pearls are about as classic as it gets around here.

A great Kingman pendant on sterling silver Navajo Pearls gives you a look that can be simple enough for everyday wear or built into a much bigger layered statement.

When choosing Navajo Pearls for a Kingman pendant, pay attention to the size of the pendant bail — the opening where the necklace passes through. The bail needs to be large enough to fit over the bead size you're wearing.

If you're unsure whether one of our Kingman pendants will fit your Navajo Pearls, reach out to us.

We're always happy to check.

How to Style Kingman Turquoise

There really isn't a wrong way to wear Kingman.

If you want to keep things simple, start with one piece — a turquoise ring, small cuff, pendant or earrings — and let the blue stand out.

If you're a little more like us, start stacking.

Mix a Kingman cuff with Navajo Pearl bracelets. Stack Kingman rings with sterling silver. Layer a Kingman pendant with different lengths of Navajo Pearls.

And don't be afraid to mix Kingman with other turquoise.

Kingman doesn't have to stay with Kingman.

We love seeing bright Kingman blue beside Golden Hills, Royston, Sonoran, Sleeping Beauty and other turquoise varieties. Kingman also looks incredible mixed with White Buffalo, Spiny Oyster, Coral and Black Onyx.

Your jewelry collection doesn't need to perfectly match.

We actually think it's better when it looks collected over time.

Is Kingman Turquoise Good for Everyday Wear?

Kingman Turquoise can make an incredible everyday piece, but turquoise is still a natural stone and should be treated with care.

A smaller ring, pendant, earrings or bracelet can easily become one of those pieces you reach for all the time.

Just remember that turquoise is porous.

We recommend removing your turquoise jewelry before showering, swimming, applying lotion or perfume, or cleaning with household chemicals. Liquids and chemicals can affect the stone over time.

Wear it often.

Just take care of it so you can keep wearing it for years.

How to Choose a Kingman Turquoise Piece

We get asked all the time how to know which turquoise is “the best.”

Our answer is usually pretty simple.

Look at the stone first.

What catches your eye?

Maybe you're drawn to clean, bright blue Kingman. Maybe you want dark matrix running through the stone. Maybe you're searching for spiderwebbing, or maybe you love a little green mixed into your turquoise.

Then look at the piece itself.

Do you want something you'll wear every day or are you looking for a statement piece? Do you love traditional silverwork or something cleaner and simpler? Are you building a bracelet stack, looking for a pendant for your Navajo Pearls or searching for one great ring?

You don't have to know everything about turquoise to choose a good one.

If you keep going back to the same piece, there is probably a reason.

Is Kingman Turquoise One of a Kind?

Natural Kingman Turquoise varies from stone to stone, so even when two pieces come from the same source, the color, matrix, shape and pattern can be completely different.

Many of the Kingman pieces at Dakota Sky Stone are one of a kind.

We also create many of our own stone layouts and designs in-house, choosing stones based on how their colors, shapes and matrix work together before those designs are brought to life.

Once a one-of-a-kind piece is gone, we may find another beautiful Kingman stone or create something with a similar feel.

But it won't be that exact stone.

That's why turquoise collecting gets a little addictive.

Native American Kingman Turquoise Jewelry

Kingman Turquoise has a long connection to Native American jewelry, and the artist behind a piece matters just as much to us as the stone.

Dakota Sky Stone works directly with Native American artists and silversmiths, including Navajo, Zuni and Pueblo artists, along with pieces created within our own family in South Dakota.

Depending on the piece, you'll see Kingman set into everything from traditional sterling silver designs and stamped cuffs to clusters, Zuni work and contemporary statement jewelry.

When we know the artist behind a piece, we include that information whenever possible.

We believe knowing where your jewelry comes from matters.

How to Care for Kingman Turquoise Jewelry

Turquoise is a porous natural stone, so a little care goes a long way.

Keep your Kingman Turquoise away from perfume, lotion, household cleaners, chlorine and other chemicals. We also recommend taking turquoise jewelry off before showering or swimming.

For cleaning, treat the turquoise and sterling silver separately.

Use a soft silver polishing cloth on the sterling silver. For the turquoise itself, use a soft, slightly damp cloth and gently wipe the stone, then pat it dry.

Never soak turquoise in water or jewelry cleaner.

And don't feel like you have to keep your turquoise tucked away because you're afraid to wear it.

These pieces are meant to become part of your life.

Wear the good stuff on an ordinary Tuesday.

Kingman Turquoise at Dakota Sky Stone

Turquoise has been part of our family's story since Dakota Sky Stone began in 1971.

Four generations later, we're still sorting through stones, working with artists, creating designs and getting excited when a really incredible piece of Kingman comes through the door.

That hasn't changed.

Whether you're buying your first turquoise piece or you've been collecting Kingman for years, we want you to find something here that feels like yours.

And if you're searching for a particular Kingman color, matrix, jewelry style or size that you don't see online, reach out.

We're always happy to check our stores in Wall and Deadwood, South Dakota, and see what we can find.

Four generations. One legacy. Family-owned since 1971.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kingman Turquoise