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You are here: Home > dZi & other Ancient, Antique & Rare Beads > Turquoise


Below you will find a selection of antique and rare quality turquoise beads. All of our turquoise is sourced in the Himalayan regions. In traditional Tibetan medicine, turquoise or Yu is valued for its many healing properties. It is believed to absorb toxins from the body and aid healthy liver function. It can also be used to treat fevers, eye disease and is an antidote to poison. Turquoise is also worn as an amulet to give protection whilst dreaming. Many turquoise beads have turned a deep green colour due to being worn on the body and absorbing oils from the skin. Normally the more blue the colour of the bead the more prized it is as an amulet.

Today the majority of so called 'Tibetan' turquoise is mined in China. However, Tibetans had several sources for turquoise in antiquity, including: Tibet, Iran and China. It is believed that Tibetan turquoise was sourced from Kongpo in the South East and Dargyal in the North East of Tibet. Apparently the best source was located in the Gangchen mountains of Nari (also spelled Ngari) in Western Tibet. It is also reported that Tibetan rulers of this region paid a regular tribute of turquoise to the kings of Ladakh (Laufer 1913, Clarke 2004).

The majority of the antique turquoise beads on our website are around 100 to 300 years old, however, some are certainly much older. Each bead is sold on its individual merits. The more recent turquoise beads we offer are selected for their distinct quality.



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Rare Turquoise & Silver Amulet Necklace
Rare Turquoise & Silver Amulet Necklace
Our Price: £1,200.00

An absolutely awesome necklace strung with beautiful turquoise and a stunning old silver amulet. The stringing alone involved many hours of loving work. Also includes old silver and bronze spacer beads. Turquoise of this quality has almost disappeared from the marketplace in recent years. This is without doubt one of the most impressive necklaces we have ever offered.

A heavy piece that is beautifully strung on strong and secure cord and ready to be worn.
Approx 100 turquoise beads.
Beads sourced in Nepal
approx 30 inches length
old silver amulet approx 80 mm x 35 mm
Condition: Excellent
230 grams
Antique Turquoise & Coral Bead Necklace
Antique Turquoise & Coral Bead Necklace
Our Price: £650.00

This is a stunning piece lovingly strung with antique turquoise, antique natural red coral and old bronze spacer beads. A one of a kind necklace packed with gorgoues beads for the real bead connoisseur.

Beautifully strung on strong and secure cord and ready to wear.
Sourced in the Himalayas, Nepal
18.5 inches length
Condition: Excellent
Antique Silver & Turquoise Pendant Bead
Antique Silver & Turquoise Pendant Bead
Our Price: £250.00

A wonderful large antique bead housed in old silver. Displays a wonderful patina.

46.60 mm x 31.45 mm
Origin: Tibet
Antique Turquoise bead
Antique Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £200.00

A large freeform antique turquoise bead that almost looks like the shape of a turtle when viewed from above. This is a lovely looking bead with great colour and patina. It also displays quartz crystal inclusions

36 mm x 32 mm
Origin: Tibet
Age: 100 years plus
Condition: Excellent
Antique Turquoise Pendant Bead
Antique Turquoise Pendant Bead
Our Price: £150.00

A wonderful item with a gorgeous turquoise front and backed with copper to allow stringing. Would make an excellent focal bead on a necklace.

approx 26 mm x 19 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Sourced in Nepal.
Large Turquoise Bead - 28 mm
Large Turquoise Bead - 28 mm
Our Price: £120.00

A large and distinctive smooth turquoise bead that is more round in shape.

approx 28 mm x 27 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Antique Silver & Turquoise Pendant Bead
Antique Silver & Copper Turquosie Pendant Bead
Our Price: £120.00

A wonderful antique pendant displaying a lovely piece of Tibetan turquoise. Has a great patina from being strung and worn over a long time. It would make an excellent focal bead on a necklace.

28 mm x 16 mm
Origin: Tibet
19th Century
Antique Turquoise Bead
Antique Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £108.00

A beautiful antique turquoise bead. Great patina and colour.

approx 32.75 mm x 23.92 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £108.00

A large natural freeform turquoise bead. Displays great colur and lovely patina developed from being worn on the body.

29 mm x 21 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
Antique Silver & Turquoise Pendant Bead
Antique Silver & BrassTurquosie Pendant Bead
Our Price: £100.00

A wonderful antique pendant displaying a lovely piece of Tibetan turquoise. Has a great patina from being strung and worn over a long time. It would make an excellent focal bead on a necklace.

38 mm x 19 mm
Origin: Tibet
19th Century
Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £75.00

A natural freeform turquoise bead. Displays great colur and lovely patina developed from being worn over a very long time.

20 mm x 21 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
Antique Turquoise Bead
Antique Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £60.00

A beautiful antique turquoise bead with a lovely usage patina.

approx 27 mm x 18 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Antique Turquoise Bead
Small Antique Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £55.00

A wonderful antique turquoise bead.

17.5 mm x 15 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Age approx 100 to 300 years
Antique Turquoise Bead
Small Antique Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £55.00

A wonderful antique turquoise bead.

18 mm x 14 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Age approx 100 to 300 years
Antique Turquoise Bead
Antique Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £55.00

A very nice large freeform antique turquoise bead.

approx 26 mm x 19 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Antique Turquoise Bead
Antique Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £55.00

A beautiful antique turquoise bead.

approx 22 mm x 16 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Antique Turquoise Bead
Antique Turquoise Bead
Our Price: £50.00

A wonderful antique turquoise bead. Displays a really interesting colour and matrix.

22 mm x 18.45 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Age approx 100 to 300 years
Extra Large Turquoise Skull Pendant Bead
Extra Large Turquoise Skull Pendant Bead
Our Price: £40.00

Click image to view more beads.

Here we have a group of large hand carved turquoise skull beads. Beads are numbered and sold individually. Please choose the bead you would like from the drop down menu.

height approx 35 mm
Material: Chinese Turquoise
Turquoise Skull Pendant Bead
Turquoise Skull Pendant Bead
Our Price: £20.00

Click image to view more beads.

Here we have a group of hand carved turquoise skull beads. Beads are numbered and sold individually. Please choose the bead you would like from the drop down menu.

height approx 18 mm
Material: Chinese Turquoise
Matched Pair of Turquoise Beads
Matched Pair of Turquoise Beads

SOLD!

A great looking pair of turquoise beads in excellent condition. A perfect size for adding to a mala.

Origin: Tibet
approx 11 mm
Antique Turquoise Bead
Antique Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A wonderful antique turquoise bead.

21 mm x 20 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Age approx 100 to 300 years
Antique Turquoise Bead
Antique Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A very nice large freeform antique turquoise bead with great colour and matrix.

approx 31 mm x 24 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Antique Turquoise Bead
Antique Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A wonderful antique Tibetan turquoise bead. Displays vibrant colour and interesting inclusions.

26 mm x 22 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Matched Pair of Turquoise Beads
Matched Pair of Turquoise Beads

SOLD!

A fine pair of round turquoise beads in excellent condition. A perfect size for adding to a mala.

Origin: Tibet
approx 12 mm
Fine Quality Turquoise Bead
Fine Quality Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A fine round turquoise bead in excellent condition. A perfect size for adding to a mala. Old round turquoise beads are very difficult to source.

Origin: Tibet
diameter 13 mm
Extra Large Turquoise Bead
Extra Large Round Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

An extra large round turquoise bead. Round beads of this quality are incredibly difficult to source.

approx 21 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Extra Large Turquoise Bead
Extra Large Round Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

An extra large round turquoise bead. Round beads of this quality are incredibly difficult to source.

approx 22 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Matched Pair of Turquoise Beads
Extra Large Matched Pair of Turquoise Beads

SOLD!

Two extra large round turquoise beads. Round beads of this quality are incredibly difficult to source.

approx 21mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Large Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Large Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A large natural freeform turquoise bead displaying extremely rare and sought after colour. Very few turquoise beads coming out of the Himalayan regions are ever this vibrant 'robin egg' blue and therefore they always carry a premium.

41 mm x 30 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
Four Antique Tibetan Turquoise Beads
Four Antique Tibetan Turquoise Beads

SOLD!

A nice group of natural freeform turquoise beads. They display great colur and a lovely patina developed from being worn over a very long time.

largest 21 mm x 19 mm
smallest 18 mm x 14 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A natural freeform turquoise bead. Displays great colur and lovely patina developed from being worn over a very long time.

24 mm x 18 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
OldTurquoise Bead
Old Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A very fine turquoise bead of the most sought after colour.  Beads that display a 'robin egg blue' colour are the rarest of turquoise and are prized above all others in Tibet and the Himalaya regions.

approx 22.00 mm x 19 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Large Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Large Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A large natural freeform antique turquoise bead. Displays great colour and an almost rusty red matrix. Ends are worn and shaped from being worn for a very long time.

27 mm x 19 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
Large Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Large Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A large natural freeform turquoise bead. Displays great colur and intricate matrix.

28 mm x 17 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
Large Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Large Antique Tibetan Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A large natural freeform turquoise bead. Displays great colour and intricate matrix. Has great end wear from being strung and worn over a long period of time.

31 mm x 17 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
Large Tibetan Turquoise Bead
Large Tibetan Turquoise Bead

SOLD!

A large natural freeform turquoise bead. Displays great colour and intricate matrix.

33 mm x 26 mm
Origin: Tibet/Himalayan
Age: 100 to 300 years
7 Antique Turquoise Beads
7 Antique Turquoise Beads

SOLD!

A small collection of seven antique turquoise beads. Beads range in colour from dark green to robin egg blue. Old turquoise beads have almost vanished from the Himalayas in recent years, so grab them whilst you can.

smallest approx 10 mm
largest approx 19 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet
Rare Turquoise, Coral & Conch Necklace
Rare Turquoise, Coral & Conch Necklace

SOLD!

A beautifully strung large necklace with authentic turquoise, natural antique red coral and conch shell beads. Each bead is flanked by tiny bronze spacer beads.

Condition: Excellent

37 antique turquoise beads (12 mm to 17 mm)
25 antique red coral beads (completely natural and undyed) (5 mm to 8 mm diameter)
12 oval indian chank shell beads (12 mm)
1 ancient jasper disc bead.

Beads sourced in Nepal
approx 40 inches length
Himalayan Bead Necklace
Himalayan Bead Necklace with Antique Coral & Turquoise

SOLD!

A really beautiful necklace comprised of wonderful Himalayan prized beads. Tibetans have valued turquoise and coral for many centuries, and they are still an important part of Tibetan culture. Each bead is flanked by old bronze spacers. This is a great selection of beads that are quickly vanishing from the marketplace.

length of necklace approx 20 inches
Antique Turquoise, Antique Coral & Conch (Chank) Shell with bronze spacers.
Age of coral and turquoise beads: 100 to 300 years old.
Sourced in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal from Tibetan traders.
Pair of Turquoise Beads
Pair of Turquoise Beads

SOLD!

A pair of genuine turquoise beads.

approx 2 mm
Condition: Excellent
Origin: Tibet