Zhushan · Hubei · China
Reading turquoise rough.
Supplier-provided reference photographs showing the variation visible in turquoise-bearing rough. These are material observations—not a documented cutting sequence for Collection 01.
Material reference
What rough material can reveal.
Oakwell Turquoise sells finished loose cabochons—not parcels of rough. These photographs provide visual context for the kinds of material characteristics that may be considered before a cabochon is shaped.
Color is only one part of the picture. Host rock, matrix, fractures, usable thickness, orientation, and natural contour can all affect what a cutter sees in a piece of rough.
Exterior and host rock
An unworked exterior may reveal only small areas of color. Host rock, visible fractures, and exposed depth are among the features a cutter may examine.
Exposed color
Small ground or cut areas can reveal differences in interior color and structure while much of the surrounding material remains intact.
Thickness and seams
Thin sections make the relationship between turquoise and host rock easier to see, including the thickness and direction of color-bearing material.
Partially cleaned material
Removing some exterior rock can expose usable color and irregular natural contours. These forms may influence later cutting choices.
Variation between pieces
Color, matrix, apparent stability, thickness, and shape vary from piece to piece and may support very different cabochon designs.
Color and matrix diversity
Clean color, webbed matrix, blue-green tones, and irregular surfaces are distinct material characteristics—not a single standard of quality.
Photography note
About these photographs.
Shared by our sourcing network in Zhushan, Hubei, these photographs offer a close view of representative rough material and the characteristics considered when planning a cabochon. They are presented as material reference rather than as a before-and-after record of Collection 01. Origin and treatment information for the offered stones is stated separately in our Material Disclosure.