Bracelets

This sterling silver baby bracelet was made by Navajo jeweler, Elton Cadman.  There are three turquoise stones that have twisted wire around the bezel.  What a sweet and memorable gift for baby!  We figure it would fit up to a year old child.

Size: 4" with .5" opening

Navajo Jeweler, Janice Spencer, made this sterling silver baby bracelet with a little bear paw and turquoise.  The opening is wide and can be easily adjusted for the baby's wrist.  Bears are called upon for healing at all levels and protection.  Perfect for a baby!

Size: 3.25" with 1.25" opening

Zuni jeweler, Larry Loretto, made this stunning channel inlay, natural red coral bracelet.  There are 44 "bricks" of coral.  The bracelet weighs 2 ounces, a good weight.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  Stamped "LORETTO" and "STERLING" inside.  More about channel inlay below.

Size: 6" Long with 1.5" Opening

Channel inlay jewelry is a process used extensively by Native American jewelers, particularly those in Zuni Pueblo.  Many other talented jewelers from other tribes in the Southwest also make channel inlay jewelry.  The metal channel, usually silver, is soldered onto the back to create the design.  Afterward, the stones are cut to fit into each section.  It is an exacting process which shows in the beauty of the work of the finished piece(s).

This Navajo handmade bracelet was made by a member of the well-known Tahe family.  Three flat twisted copper wires nestle between two round ones.  Stamped "Tahe" and "copper" inside.

Size: 5" Long with .875" Opening

This Navajo handmade sterling silver bracelet has a gorgeous natural Egyptian turquoise set in the center.  The setting has twisted silver wire around the bezel, and precise cutouts in the surrounding silver.  "NJ" is stamped inside.

Size: 5.375" Long with 1" Opening - Turquoise setting is 1" H x .75" W

This sweet, sterling silver, Navajo handmade bracelet was made by Harris Largo.  The center Kingman turquoise stone has a natural red coral on each side.  The corals each have a delicately details feather.

Size: 5.5 Long with 1" Opening

Zuni jeweler, Veronica Martza, made this simply elegant bracelet.  Thirteenn atural red coral cabochons were cut into long, thin, needlepoint shapes and set in sterling silver bezels.  Between each bezel is a tiny sterling silver ball on each side.  The sterling silver is rounded where the stones are and tapers flat at the ends.  "VMARTZA" and "Zuni" engraved inside.

Size: 5.25" L with 1.25 opening

This vintage, sterling silver, Navajo bracelet is set with twenty-one natural Mediterranean stones.  There is an oxidized silver circle between each stone, as well as the silver plate the stones are set on.  The double shank bracelet has two twisted silver wires inside.  "Sterling" and "VB" are stamped on the end.  Rare find!

Size: 5.25" with 1" opening - .875" W in the center

This beautiful bracelet is not Native American or Indigenous American made.  Beautiful agates and red garnet are set in an ornate sterling silver setting.  We have no idea where it was made, although we think it may be Bali or India.  This bracelet was part of a collection of Vintage Native American jewelry.

Size: 6.125" Long with 1.125" Opening - Center Setting 1.625" H

This vintage Navajo cluster bracelet features natural, soft green turquoise.  There are eight stones in the center, fifteen stones in the circle around the center, and twenty-eight stones in the outer circle.  There are thirteen stones each on the left and right for a total of seventy-seven turquoise stones set in sterling silver.  Each concentric circle is surrounded with twister sterling silver wire, with sterling silver ball accenets throughout.  It's an impressive piece!

Size: 5.375" Long with 1" Opening - Center is 2.5" H x 3.25" W

Kewa Pueblo jeweler, Ramona Bird, hand-rolled this "light as air" bracelet from pen shell and clam shell.  The clasp is sterling silver.

Size: 8.5" Long

Hand-rolled beads are made by chipping out pieces of stone or shell.  A hole is drilled into the center of each chip.  The chips are strung on a wire and rolled, and rolled, and rolled until they are all the same width.  Sometimes they are graduated – a difficult task!  They are then polished until smooth.  There are hand-rolled necklaces from Kewa Pueblo that are over a thousand years old.  In the “old days”, the holes were drilled with a hand-pump drill, strung on handmade string, and rolled on sandstone.   There is nothing quite like hand-rolled Kewa beads!

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

Kewa Pueblo jeweler, Ramona Bird, hand-rolled this "light as air" bracelet from pen shell and clam shell.  The clasp is sterling silver.

Size: 8.5" Long

Hand-rolled beads are made by chipping out pieces of stone or shell.  A hole is drilled into the center of each chip.  The chips are strung on a wire and rolled, and rolled, and rolled until they are all the same width.  Sometimes they are graduated – a difficult task!  They are then polished until smooth.  There are hand-rolled necklaces from Kewa Pueblo that are over a thousand years old.  In the “old days”, the holes were drilled with a hand-pump drill, strung on handmade string, and rolled on sandstone.   There is nothing quite like hand-rolled Kewa beads!

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

Kewa Pueblo jeweler, Dorene Calabaza, hand-rolled stones and shell to make these bracelets.  Each of the bracelets has the main stone of either black jet, green turquoise, or melon shell.  The other beads include turquoise, jet, apple coral, catlinite, and clam shell.  The beads end with a sterling silver lobster claw clasp.  More about hand-rolled beads below.

Size: 8"

Hand-rolled beads are made by chipping out pieces of stone or shell.  A hole is drilled into the center of each chip.  The chips are strung on a wire and rolled, and rolled, and rolled until they are all the same width.  Sometimes they are graduated – a difficult task!  They are then polished until smooth.  There are hand-rolled necklaces from Kewa Pueblo that are over a thousand years old.  In the “old days”, the holes were drilled with a hand-pump drill, strung on handmade string, and rolled on sandstone.   There is nothing quite like hand-rolled Kewa beads!

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

Navajo jeweler, Elton Cadman, made this delicate sterling silver bracelet that, depending on the size of the little one's wrist, will fit a baby or toddler.  He sent a sparkling opal in the center of the simple setting.  The silver is flexible, and can be manipulated to fit the wrist. 

Navajo jeweler, Elaine Tahe, made this simple sterling silver bracelet and hand-stamped designs that resemble the rays of the sun.

Size: 4" L  with .75" opening

Navajo jeweler, Elton Cadman, made this sweet sterling silver baby bracelet.  It has a bright blue turquoise stone set in the simple setting.  A nice, memorable gift for baby!

Size: 3.25" with 1.25" opening

Navajo jeweler, Judy Lincoln, made this delicate sterling silver bracelet that, depending on the size of the little one's wrist, will fit a baby or toddler.  There are two spirals, one on each side of the turquoise.  The silver is flexible, and can be manipulated to fit the wrist.  However, it will break after repeated times being bent, so the best bet is to fit it on the write so that is can go and off easily and not bend it again until it becomes to small.

Size: 3.5" with 1.125" opening

This vintage, sterling silver, Thunderbird bracelet is inlaid with turquoise, Mother of Pearl, jet, and red coral.  This bracelet is part of a collection of jewelry from the 1950s to 1990s. It has been lightly polished.  It is magnificent! 

Size: 5.5" Long with 1.125" Opening - Thunderbird 1.5" H x 1.5" W

Navajo jeweler, Elaine Tahe, made this bracelet of braided sterling silver.  What we like about bangles is they don't have to be taken off and on every day.  You can just leave them on.

Size: 7.875" Diameter

Navajo jeweler, Elaine Tahe, made this gracefully twisted sterling silver bracelet.  The way the silver is twisted catches the light.  What we like about bangles is they don't have to be taken off and on every day.  You can just leave them on.

Size: 7.875" Diameter

This lovely Navajo tufa cast bracelet has a natural Morenci turquoise stone set in the center.  The stone sits in the middle of a sunburst with "wings" on each side.  This bracelet was part of a collection of older Native American jewelry.  We estimate that it was made in the 1950s or 1960s.  More about the process of tufa cast jewelry making below.

Size: 5" Long with 1.5" Opening x 1.5" Wide - Stone .5" x .25"

This classic, vintage, sterling silver, tufa cast bracelet is graced with a natural Bisbee turquoise in the center.  More about tufa cast jewelry below.  We think it may be from the 1940s or 1950s.  The form is so graceful.  It has been very lightly cleaned to keep the beautiful patina that comes with age. This is a real beauty!

Size: 5.125" L with 1.5" Opening x 2.125" W - Stone .75" H x .675" W

Tufa Cast: Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk and has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved in reverse into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

This vintage sterling silver, tufa cast bracelet has a natural Morenci or Lone Mountain turquoise set in the center (according to our resident turquoise expert).  It was definitely made for a small wrist.  It is stamped EA on the back and we think it might have been made by Navajo jeweler, Evelyn Abeita, in the 1960s or 1970s.  It has been very lightly polished to maintain the patina that comes with age. 

Size: 5" L with 1.125" Opening x 1.125" W - Stone .675" Diameter

This vintage sterling silver  Navajo bracelet is definitely old school style.  The stone is natural Morenci turquoise with dark gray matrix.  It is a deeper color that the photo shows.  The triple split shank has detailed stamp work, as well as on the leaves on each side of the stone.  The stone has twisted wire around the bezel and four small round stamped suns at the tip of each leaf.  

Size: 6.125" L with 1.25" Opening x 1.25" Wide - Stone 1.125" H x .875" W 

This sterling silver bracelet was made by Navajo jeweler M. Spencer whose name is stamped on the inside.  It has eight polished Kingman turquoise nuggets set on the top and sides.  The silver work beautifull frames the nuggets with lovely radiating lines from the ends to the turquoise.  What a beauty!

Size: 5.75" with 1.25" opening, .875" wide

Navajo jeweler, Lenny Mariano, made this split shank sterling silver bracelet.  It is set with three gorgeous natural Sleeping Beauty stones with sterling silver wire wrapped around the bezels.  It is stamped "M" and "Sterling" inside.

Size: 5.75" with 1" opening - largest stone: .75" H x .675" W

The natural Candelaria turquoise stones in this bracelet are the colors of the Caribbean sea with stunning with golden matrix.  It was made in the 1960s or 1970s and has the patina that comes with older silver jewelry. The three stones are set in bezels that are beautifully detailed with oxidized parts that set off of the twisted silver wire, and are set on triple split shank cuff.  "JJ" and "Sterling" are stamped behind the largest stone.

Size: 5" Long with 1" Opening - Largest stone setting is 1.75" H x 1.25" W

Well known Zuni jeweler, Larry Loretto, made this sleek, smaller size, channel inlay cuff bracelet with inlaid black jet.  It is stamped "LORETTO"  and "Sterling" on the inside.

Size: 4.75" with a .875" opening

Channel inlay jewelry is a process used extensively by Native American jewelers, particularly those in Zuni Pueblo.  Many other talented jewelers from other tribes in the Southwest also make channel inlay jewelry.  The metal channel, usually silver, is soldered onto the back to create the design.  Afterward, the stones are cut to fit into each section.  It is an exacting process which shows in the beauty of the work of the finished piece(s).

Zuni jeweler, Gerald Etsate, made this stunning sterling silver traditional needlepoint bracelet and set forty four natural red coral stones in it.  The silverwork is gorgeous with twisted  wire and silver ball accents.  You don't see these very often these days!  It is signed "G.Etsate" on the back.

Size: 5.5" with 1.25" Opening.  Center setting is 2.25" H x 2.5" W, Side settings are 1.125" H x .75" W

It takes thousands of years for red coral to grow, and much of it has been over harvested.  Some of the natural red coral fields are protected to allow them to recover.  What is available goes up in price every year.  If you love red coral, now is the time to invest in it.

The stones in this bracelet are impressive natural Fox turquoise.  The color is a bit darker and bluer than the photo.  The stones sit in shadowbox settings,with an elegant silver band around the bale.  The cuff is made of triple triangular shaped sterling silver.  It is a stunning piece of jewelry.  "M. Spencer" and "Sterling" are stamped on the back.

Size: 5.5" with 1" opening.  Center stone setting is 1.875" H x 1.5" wide.  The stone settings on each side are 1.675" H x 1.5" W