here's an great article on the subject....it doesnt specifically address turkoman vs kuchi, but I'm sure the same concepts apply.
www.heavyhips.net/buyingeth...aphica.htm

Hi Lisha,
That's a good article to bookmark and refer back to.
Essentially 'Turkoman' are a specific people in Central Asia. 'Kuchi' simply means 'nomad' and encompasses several different peoples.

Genuine and older Turkoman pieces are typically made of higher content silver, sometimes with (real) gold wash and natural stones. The workmanship on Turkoman items is usually of a very fine quality which adds to the price. Even new Turkoman pieces made of silver are quite expensive. There are new/reproduction Turkoman items that are affordable, but they are made with mixed metals and usually contain glass jewels.

Kuchi items can also be made of silver, but these are usually older pieces and are very hard to find these days. These older pieces are typically quite expensive as well. Most Kuchi items available today are newer and are made with mixed metals and contain glass jewels. While they are still made by hand, and most are still made in traditional styles, they are NEW and are specifically made for the market.

Reputable dealers will be happy to explain the differences to you.