Turquoise & Rare Beads. The Turquoise is not rare; from one of the mines of western Tibet, a couple of which have been producing strongly for a hundred years and more. And while the AGrade quality of deep blue in the 3mm Afghani Lapis Lazuli can be difficult to source, the gemstone cannot be said to be rare.
The old Turkoman Silver beads, however, are nowadays becoming more rare, more difficult to source, and the old beads of banded Agates between the Turkoman Silver and Turquoise, are quite rare, from an ancient strand excavated in the Northern Plain region of northern Afghanistan, near Balkh.