Black Jack Turquoise

Kingman, Arizona

Kingman material with deep, dramatic black matrix that pops against silver.

Where it comes from

Black Jack is a designation used for Kingman turquoise cabs cut from veins where the matrix runs particularly bold and dark. Same Arizona mine, same supply chain, but selected for color contrast. The Kingman district has produced turquoise commercially since the 1880s and is one of the most consistent sources of American material on the market today.

What makes it distinctive

The host stone is classic Kingman blue or blue-green, but the matrix density is what defines a Black Jack. Look for near-black or deep brown-black webbing running across the blue, often in tight branching patterns. The visual drama against sterling silver is why silversmiths often save Black Jack cabs for statement settings.

How to identify it

Black Jack should read distinctly darker in matrix than a standard Kingman cab. The black or near-black webbing should be intrinsic to the stone, not surface enhancement. Smaller cuts often show the matrix more dramatically because the contrast is concentrated.