Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise: That Classic Arizona Blue

If you picture the perfect clear blue turquoise stone, there's a good chance you're picturing something that looks a lot like Sleeping Beauty.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is known for its beautiful, bright blue color and often very little visible matrix. It has a clean, classic look that has made it one of the most recognizable and loved American turquoise varieties.

And around Dakota Sky Stone, it's one of those stones that never really goes out of style.

Sleeping Beauty can be simple and understated or absolutely steal the show depending on how it's set.

That's what we love about it.

What Is Sleeping Beauty Turquoise?

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise comes from the Sleeping Beauty Mine near Globe, Arizona.

The turquoise became famous for its beautiful blue color and clean appearance, often with little to no visible matrix.

That consistent blue made Sleeping Beauty especially recognizable in Native American and Southwestern jewelry, from simple sterling silver pieces to intricate cluster and needlepoint designs.

The Sleeping Beauty Mine stopped producing turquoise in 2012, so the turquoise available today comes from material mined before the closure and collections of stone that have been held over the years.

That history has made genuine Sleeping Beauty Turquoise even more special to collectors.

Why We Love Sleeping Beauty Turquoise at Dakota Sky Stone

Our family has worked with turquoise since Dakota Sky Stone began in 1971, and Sleeping Beauty is one of those classic stones we've loved for years.

There's just something about that blue.

It's clean. It's bright. It's easy to recognize. And it works beautifully with sterling silver.

While we love turquoise with incredible matrix, there are times when you just want that pure pop of turquoise color.

Sleeping Beauty does that better than almost anything.

It can make the smallest pair of earrings stand out and still hold its own in a large statement piece.

Simple doesn't have to mean boring.

What Color Is Sleeping Beauty Turquoise?

Sleeping Beauty is best known for its bright blue to sky-blue color.

Many stones have very little visible matrix, giving them the smooth, clean blue appearance that made the mine famous.

That doesn't mean every genuine Sleeping Beauty stone will look exactly alike.

Turquoise is a natural stone, and color and appearance can vary. Some pieces may have subtle matrix or slight differences in shade.

That's part of working with natural turquoise.

We aren't looking for stones that look like they came out of a machine.

We're looking for the ones that make beautiful jewelry.

Why Is Sleeping Beauty Turquoise So Popular?

Sleeping Beauty has been loved for decades, but its clean blue color is only part of the story.

Its versatility made it a favorite among Native American artists and silversmiths. The stone works beautifully in traditional and contemporary designs and is especially striking when several stones are used together.

Then the mine closed.

With no new Sleeping Beauty Turquoise being mined from the original source, genuine material became increasingly sought after by artists and collectors.

For us, though, the appeal still comes back to the stone itself.

It's just a really beautiful blue.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Rings, Bracelets, Necklaces & Earrings

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise can work in almost any piece of jewelry.

At Dakota Sky Stone, our collection can include Sleeping Beauty rings, sterling silver cuffs and bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, clusters and one-of-a-kind Native American jewelry.

A simple Sleeping Beauty ring or pair of earrings gives you an easy pop of turquoise you can wear again and again.

But Sleeping Beauty is also incredible in bigger pieces.

Cluster rings, statement cuffs and necklaces filled with multiple bright blue stones can make that clean color impossible to miss.

Sometimes one stone is enough.

Sometimes more is more.

We're good with both.

Sleeping Beauty Cluster Jewelry

Sleeping Beauty is especially beautiful in cluster jewelry.

Because the stones can have such a clean, consistent blue appearance, an artist can bring several stones together and let the shape, silverwork and arrangement become part of the statement.

You'll often see Sleeping Beauty used in cluster rings, cuffs, earrings and necklaces where multiple turquoise stones are arranged together.

It's one of those styles that can feel completely classic and still make people stop and ask where you got it.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise in Zuni Jewelry

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise has also been a favorite in Zuni jewelry, where smaller stones can be cut and arranged into detailed designs.

Needlepoint, petit point, clusters and inlay can all showcase that bright blue color in completely different ways.

We love these pieces because the craftsmanship is just as important as the turquoise.

When you look closely, you begin to see how much work goes into cutting, arranging and setting all of those individual stones.

The artist matters.

Always.

How to Style Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Sleeping Beauty might be one of the easiest turquoise varieties to wear.

That bright blue looks incredible against black, white, denim, brown and all of the warm Western tones we love.

Start with one great Sleeping Beauty ring or cuff if you want the turquoise to stand on its own.

Or layer it.

Add Sleeping Beauty to Navajo Pearls. Stack it with sterling silver bracelets. Mix a clean blue Sleeping Beauty piece beside turquoise with heavier matrix.

And don't worry about keeping every turquoise variety the same.

A clean Sleeping Beauty stone beside a matrix-filled Kingman or Royston piece can make both stones stand out even more.

The goal isn't to make everything match.

The goal is to make it look like you.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise & Navajo Pearls

Sleeping Beauty and sterling silver Navajo Pearls are a combination that just works.

The clean blue turquoise against the silver beads gives you a classic Western look that can be worn simply or layered into something much bigger.

Try a Sleeping Beauty pendant on a strand of Navajo Pearls, or mix Sleeping Beauty bracelets and rings into a larger sterling silver stack.

If you're putting a pendant on Navajo Pearls, make sure the pendant bail is large enough to pass over the bead size you're wearing.

And if you're shopping Dakota Sky Stone and aren't sure whether a pendant will fit your pearls, reach out.

We're always happy to check.

Can You Mix Sleeping Beauty with Other Turquoise?

Absolutely.

Actually, we love it.

Sleeping Beauty gives you that clean blue color, which makes it a great contrast beside turquoise with more matrix and variation.

Mix it with Kingman, Royston, Number 8, Golden Hills, Sonoran or whatever turquoise you already love.

You can also pair Sleeping Beauty with White Buffalo, Spiny Oyster, Coral and other stones for even more contrast.

The best layers feel collected over time.

They don't have to look like they all came home on the same day.

Is Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Rare?

Because the Sleeping Beauty Mine stopped producing turquoise in 2012, there is a finite amount of genuine Sleeping Beauty material from the mine available.

That has made quality Sleeping Beauty increasingly sought after by collectors, jewelry artists and people who simply love the stone.

But not every piece should be valued exactly the same.

The quality, color, size and character of the turquoise all matter. In finished jewelry, the artist, age, sterling silver work, craftsmanship, design and number of stones can also affect value.

A name is only part of the story.

The stone and the piece still matter.

How to Choose Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Sleeping Beauty is a little different from stones we choose mainly for their matrix.

Here, color often takes center stage.

Look for the shade of blue you're drawn to and then look at the entire piece.

Maybe you want one clean blue stone in a simple sterling silver setting. Maybe you're drawn to a vintage-style cluster with dozens of stones. Maybe you want an everyday ring or the biggest cuff you can find.

There isn't one right way to collect Sleeping Beauty.

Choose the piece you'll actually want to wear.

That's always a pretty good place to start.

One-of-a-Kind Sleeping Beauty Jewelry

Even with its reputation for clean, consistent blue, Sleeping Beauty is still natural turquoise.

Stones can vary in color, shape, size and appearance, and the artists working with them bring their own style to every finished piece.

Many of our Sleeping Beauty pieces are one of a kind or available in very limited quantities.

Once one sells, we may find another beautiful Sleeping Beauty piece.

But that doesn't mean we'll find that exact one again.

If you keep going back to the same piece, there may be a reason.

Native American Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Jewelry

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise has a long history in Native American jewelry, and some of the most incredible Sleeping Beauty pieces we see are the result of the artist's craftsmanship just as much as the stone itself.

Dakota Sky Stone works directly with Native American artists and silversmiths, relationships our family has built over generations.

You'll find Sleeping Beauty used in Navajo, Zuni and other Native American jewelry styles, from classic sterling silver settings and stamped designs to detailed cluster, needlepoint, petit point and inlay work.

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

Because knowing who made your jewelry matters.

How to Care for Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Turquoise is a natural, porous stone and should be treated with care.

Keep Sleeping Beauty Turquoise away from perfume, lotion, household cleaners, chlorine and harsh jewelry chemicals.

We recommend removing your turquoise before swimming, showering or doing anything that exposes it to chemicals or prolonged moisture.

For the turquoise itself, gently wipe the stone with a soft, slightly damp cloth and pat it dry. Use care when polishing the surrounding sterling silver so harsh cleaners don't come in contact with the turquoise.

Take care of it, but don't be afraid to wear it.

We've never believed beautiful turquoise should spend its life sitting in a jewelry box.

Wear the good stuff on an ordinary Tuesday.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise at Dakota Sky Stone

Sleeping Beauty has been part of the turquoise world our family has loved for generations.

Dakota Sky Stone has been family-owned since 1971, and four generations later we're still selecting stones, creating designs, working directly with Native American artists and searching for jewelry we can't wait to show you.

Some turquoise catches your eye because of its matrix.

Sleeping Beauty catches your eye because of that blue.

It's classic for a reason.

Whether you're searching for your first Sleeping Beauty piece or adding another to a collection you've built over years, we hope you find the one that feels like yours.

And if you're looking for a particular Sleeping Beauty ring size, jewelry style or piece 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 Sleeping Beauty Turquoise