Miscellaneous Jewelry

You will be styling with these Navajo handmade concho cuff links!  Turquoise is set in the center with repousse flowers all around, and intricate stamp work around the outer edge.  What a wonderful gift!

Size: .875" Diameter

This sterling silver miniature box was made by Navajo jeweler, Jeffrey Castillo.  It has a bright blue turquoise set on top and stamp work in the shape of a star around the stone, and also around the edge.  There is one hinge on the back, and it has a nipple closure.  It can be used as a pill box for several small round or elongated pills.

Size: .75" H x 2.25" L x 1.625" W

This sterling silver miniature box was made by Navajo jeweler, Jeffrey Castillo.  It has a bright blue turquoise set on top and stamp work around the stone, and around the beveled edge.  The back of the lid has two hinges, and it has a nipple closure.  It can be used as a pill box for several small  round or elongated pills.

Size: .625" H x 2.125" L x 1" W

This sterling silver miniature box was made by Navajo jeweler, Wesley Whitman.  It has a bright blue turquoise set on top and stamp work in the shape of a star.  The back of the lid is hinged, and it has a nipple closure.  It can be used as a pill box for several small pills, or a couple of elongated pills.

Size: .875" H x 1.125" W

This sterling silver buckle was made by Navajo jeweler, D. C. Thomas.  It has three Kingman turquoise stones, and two red coral stones set in a horizontal line in the center.  There is delicate stamp work around the inner border.  It will fit a belt that is up to 1" wide.  Stamped "D. C. Thomas" on the back.

Size: 1.625" H x 2.625" W

Zuni jeweler, Carmichael Haloo, inlaid Sleeping Beauty turquoise in a fish scale pattern on this key ring.  The setting around the bezel is a flower design, with tiny little sterling silver flowers between each petal.

Size: 2.25" L x 1" W

Navajo jeweler, Jolene Yazzie, made this money clip with an inlaid Yei-bei-chei and stampwork on each side.  The Yei-bei-chei is inlaid with red coral and turquoise chips.  The Yei-bei-chie are intelligent forces of nature that traditional Navajo people have relationships with since the beginning of time.

Size: 2" H x 1" W

He or she will be holding their money in style with this Navajo handmade money clip.  Three denim lapis stones are set in the center, with hand stamped designs all around.  It has an ingenious design that uses pressure to keep the bills in, whether many or few.  The perfect gift for that person that is hard to buy for!  The jeweler's name and price will be cleaned from the back before shipping.

Size: 2" H x 1" W

He or she will be holding their money in style with this Zuni inlay money clip.  It is inlaid with natural red coral, mother of pearl, jet, and turquoise.  The perfect gift for that person that is hard to buy for!

Size: 2.25" H x .75" W

This spectacular 3" diameter turquoise cluster pin/pendant made by Navajo jeweler, Zarita Begay, can be worn either way.   There are 103 sett turquoise stones which were hand cut with each set in its own handmade bezel.  there is twisted wire between each row of stones, and soldered silver half circles of sterling silver wire between the other stones and the next set of stones.  It is all on oxidized silver to enhance the silver and stones.  The bale will fit a small to medium size chain and it has a 2" long pin on the back.

Size: 3.125" in diameter

This stunning dragonfly pin was made by Navajo jeweler, Ray Adakai.  It has a mother of pearl head with jet eyes.  There is a sterling silver ball soldered on each side of the "neck", with two more under the wings.  The body and wings are inlaid with red spiny oyster shell, jet, and natural high-grade turquoise.  Each wing has a silver ball soldered on the end.  The antennas are twisted wire, as is the end of the body.  It is stamped "Ray Adakai" on the back, which has a pin.  The price will be polished off before being shipped.  More about dragonflies below.

Size: 2.625" H x 2.25" W

Dragonflies have different, yet similar meanings throughout Native America.  In Zuni, they are messengers between this world and the next and are related to the coming rains and corn.  In other tribes they are strong protectors, as dragonflies are one of the very few creatures that can fight while flying backwards.  They are known to watch our backs and offer protection.  Their symbol is a vertical line with two horizontal bars, and can be seen on war shirts, shields and painted on horses going into battle.

Quetzal birds are sacred to Indigenous people in Central America.  They are large and colorful birds, reaching over 13" at adulthood.  Zuni jewelers, Ruddell and Nancy Laconsello, inlaid this pin/pendant using malachite, jet, and red coral for the body of the bird.  It sits on an inlaid malachite branch, with pale green leaves, a bushy red coral flower, and pink mussel shell flower bud.  It has a bale for a chain or 4mm beads and pin back to be worn two different ways.

Size: 1.5" Diameter

Nancy and Ruddell Laconsello are married Zuni jewelers who are well-known known for their intricate inlaid jewelry.  Working together, Ruddell crafts the silver work.  Nancy cuts the stones and does the inlay.  Ruddell finishes the pieces with etching the stones and polishing the finished treasure.

This type of Zuni inlay is made by sawing out two pieces of silver into the desired shape.  The area where the stones are inlaid are sawed out by hand (yes, really!).  The two pieces of silver are soldered together.  The stones are then cut, shaped, and placed into the areas that have been sawed out to create the design.  This type of jewelry making is difficult and involved, which is why we do not see too many jewelers making it anymore.