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Turquoise/Native American jewelry

persnick

Banned
Messages
36
Location
Canada
Hi guys, I am considering buying a few pieces from a retailer I found online...but I am a little curious about pricing.

Do you guys know anything about turquoise silver jewelry pricing?
 

persnick

Banned
Messages
36
Location
Canada
That is indeed a very profound approach to shopping. However, I was asking about people who are familiar with the costs for certain turquoise pieces--I don't want to overpay.
 

persnick

Banned
Messages
36
Location
Canada
I'd love to show examples, but I was wondering if there was anyone in particular who had this kind of background...whether PMs would be better.
 
Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
If you are talking about Native American jewelry, the prices range incredibly based on the collectibility of the item and its maker. While the value of silver and quality of turquoise has some bearing, the historical importance of the piece is the major driving factor. Using this link to last weeks completed Ebay auctions will give you a snapshot of the market.

If you are looking for more information on the various mines that produce(d) turquoise and their respective rarities and values, that is a different Google search.
 
Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
Here is a recent find... a 1930s tourist era cigar band style ring - very light construction but beautifully crafted repoussé and stamping.

cigarbandring.jpg
 
Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
This is ring is not very old I would guess but I was drawn to the design of the lapidary work. Maker's hallmark OC... have not found any reference to those initials.

picassoring.jpg
 

fluteplayer07

One Too Many
Messages
1,844
Location
Michigan
This is ring is not very old I would guess but I was drawn to the design of the lapidary work. Maker's hallmark OC... have not found any reference to those initials.

.....

Absolutely beautiful Alan. Any idea what the age might be? This is quickly becoming one of my favorite threads.
 
Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
Thank you Flute. I would guess this piece to be 1980s or later. Here are a couple of additional views. sorry for the poor quality. My iPhone struggles with the dynamic range of black hats and shiny jewelry.

picassoring2.jpg
 

Michaelshane

One Too Many
Messages
1,928
Location
Land of Enchantment
By the way,when I say sweat shop,that's not a bad thing around here.Its just what we in the industry call all the manufacturing shops in this area.They all have highly skilled craftsmen and women producing very nice jewelry.I have set up casting operations,trained inlayers,and silversmiths to work in several of the shops.They are also well paid.
 
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Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
I'd been looking for something to hang from an older strand of Navajo silver beads... found this tufa cast yei recently and have been enjoying wearing them together.

yei_beads.jpg


012513.jpg
 
Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
This one set me back more than expected but I really wanted to acquire it. The silver work is by Hopi artisan Morris Robinson who was active for five decades beginning in the 1920s - this is likely from the 1930s with an early version of his hallmark of a snake and "H." The belt is probably not original to the ranger set, but it's a nice one and has four additional stamped pieces sewn to it with rawhide.

morrisbelt1.jpg


morrisbelt6.jpg


morrisbelt4.jpg


morrisbelt5.jpg
 
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