Sleeping Beauty Turquoise
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise
Globe, Arizona
The standard for clean, sky-blue turquoise. Mine closed in 2012.
Where it comes from
The Sleeping Beauty mine sits near Globe, Arizona, named for the mountain that resembles a sleeping woman when viewed from a distance. It operated as a copper mine for decades, with turquoise as a valuable byproduct. The turquoise that came out of Sleeping Beauty became the global standard for clean, blue, matrix-free stone.
In 2012, the mine's owners made the decision to stop turquoise production entirely, shifting focus to copper extraction. That closure instantly changed the turquoise market. Existing Sleeping Beauty stock became finite, and prices have been climbing steadily ever since.
What it looks like
Sleeping Beauty turquoise is known for one thing above all else: pure, even, sky-blue color with little to no matrix. It's the clean blue that most people picture when they hear the word "turquoise." The color is consistent and smooth, without the veining or host rock patterns you see in stones like Royston or Number 8.
That clean look makes Sleeping Beauty extremely versatile in jewelry. It works in delicate settings without competing for attention, and it pops in bold pieces where the color does all the talking. There's a simplicity to it that never goes out of style.
What makes it special
Two things. First, the color. Sleeping Beauty set the benchmark for "ideal" turquoise blue, and it remains the standard that other stones are compared against. That robin's-egg clarity is immediately recognizable to anyone who knows turquoise.
Second, scarcity. Since the mine closed in 2012, no new Sleeping Beauty turquoise is being produced. Every piece on the market today came out of the ground before that closure. As inventory gets bought up by collectors, jewelers, and buyers, the available supply shrinks. That scarcity drives both price and collector interest.
Value and availability
Sleeping Beauty sits at the higher end of the turquoise market, and prices have been trending upward since 2012. Natural (unstabilized) Sleeping Beauty commands a premium, but even stabilized stones from this mine carry more value than comparable blue turquoise from active mines.
Be cautious when shopping. Because the name carries so much weight, you'll see "Sleeping Beauty" attached to stones that aren't actually from this mine. Buy from sellers who can speak specifically about their sourcing and who understand the difference.
Sleeping Beauty in our collection
When we have Sleeping Beauty pieces, they tend to move quickly. The clean blue works beautifully in everything from simple stud earrings to elegant pendants. If you see a Sleeping Beauty piece in our shop that speaks to you, don't wait too long. Once it's gone, it's gone.
