Early 1930's Navajo Cerrillos Turquoise Ingot Silver Cuff

  
This is a listing for a rare Navajo cuff, circa 1930's. It's in superb antique condition with no damage to any of the gem grade turquoise or the beautiful hand wrought ingot silver settings and band. It has an inside measurement from tip to tip, not including the gap, of 5 and 9/16th inches. The gap is 1.25 inches for a total wearing length of 6 and 13/16th inches....

Just over 6.75 inch wearing length. It weighs 62 grams which is sturdy... This is not a lightweight cuff. Though an early century piece, it is not a "Harvey cuff".

Not a tourist trade piece. This would have been hand created by a master Navajo silversmith for their own use. The silver is strong with the settings (stone and silver mountings) and wire band ingot made, and this piece can not be adjusted.

The turquoise is from the Cerrillos mine in New Mexico. Cerrillos turquoise only becomes more beautiful with age.

It's colors deepen and the polish shows a warm patina that you see in gem grade natural stones that have been worn and touched for a century. The center stone is strongly domed and given an unusual rounded emerald cut. Very thick high grade turquoise stone.

The lapidarist wanted to show off the rare and prominent natural quartz inclusions. Large quartz inclusions in turquoise are uncommon and desirable. I've photographed them as well as possible with a flash. The quartz gives the stone a delightful earthy texture that shouts natural turquoise. The color of the stone is teal green...

Mostly green with lovely blue undertones. The smith mounted it in a tight straight bezel surrounded by fine hand twisted wire.

A hand poured silver ball border contrasts beautifully with the squared stone of turquoise. Thick pulled and twisted sterling rope flanks, accents and strengthens this gorgeous setting. Tool marks on the back of all 3 stone settings display ingot silver work.

The artist does not start with a prefabricated sheet of sterling. It's more difficult and requires a lot of skill and talent. What turns a lovely cuff into something really special are the 5 tear drop stones on each side. These are large chunky stones. Thick because back then fine grade American turquoise was much more available. Not thin cabochons that need to be backed.

The stones have a deep heavy wonderful thick hand made bezel that has held them tightly and protected them for many decades. These stones really show off the beauty of Cerrillos with all the colors collectors crave, from a bright blue to a teal blue to a deep deep green. Mostly solid color with a small amount of scattered dark matrix.

Just a solid mass of beautifully carved antique Cerrillos turquoise. The artist added a wonderful overlay on each shoulder of twisted and scalloped wire terminated with silver drops... Heavy made accents that protected the shoulders of this piece it's entire life.

The stones and decorative elements are all mounted on strong, not adjustable 3 ingot pulled wire bands that were fused and capped at the terminals. Antique Navajo cuffs wrought by a master displaying some of the best turquoise the American west had to offer do not show up very often on the market. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Bracelets & Charms". The seller is "100smr" and is located in this country: US.

This item can be shipped to United States.

1. Ethnic & Regional Style: Native American
2. Main Stone Creation: Natural
3. Metal: Sterling Silver
4. Item Length: 6.7 in
5. Main Stone: Turquoise
6. Brand: Unbranded
7. Setting Style: Ingot
8. Department: Unisex Adults
9. Type: Bracelet
10. Main Stone Shape: Tear Drop & Square Dome
11. Style: Cuff
12. Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
13. Country of Origin: United States