Villa Grove turquoise is renowned as one of the finest-quality American turquoises ever mined. It exhibits an intense, electric blue color comparable to the best Bisbee Blue, often accented by a striking matrix of either golden-brown or jet black (as opposed to Bisbee’s signature reddish-brown webbing). Some Villa Grove stones show delicate black spider webbing or dark dendritic patterns against the vibrant blue. In terms of hardness and beauty, top-grade Villa Grove is second to none – it takes a high polish and can appear almost luminous.
The Villa Grove mine in Saguache County, Colorado was worked intermittently from the early 1900s until the 1950s. Today the old mine site lies beneath a small mountain lake formed by a diverted creek, so no further turquoise can be extracted from it. As a result, any Villa Grove turquoise on the market comes from old stock, and even mid-grade pieces have become exceedingly rare. Native American jewelers and collectors covet this stone for its legendary color and scarcity. Whether found in vintage jewelry or in new pieces crafted from saved rough, authentic Villa Grove turquoise carries the prestige of a storied mine long closed, making such jewels highly prized by connoisseurs.
