Some jewellery has a presence that can only come with time. This beautiful turquoise necklace is one of those pieces, handmade decades ago and filled with the character of the American Southwest.
 
A generous strand of natural turquoise nuggets forms the necklace, each one individually shaped and polished by hand. Together, they create an incredible sweep of blue that feels wonderfully substantial when worn.
 
And then there is the colour. That luminous robin’s egg blue is one of the most prized colours in turquoise, and it is particularly associated with material from Arizona’s famous Sleeping Beauty mine.
 
A Little Southwestern History
 
Turquoise has been treasured by Native American peoples of the American Southwest for generations. It was worn as jewellery, used ceremonially and valued as a medium of exchange long before it became internationally coveted as a gemstone.
Dating to around the 1970s, this necklace is attributed to Navajo craftsmanship. Its construction is beautifully traditional, right down to the hand-formed sterling silver cones and simple hook-and-eye closure.
 
The silver has been allowed to age naturally, developing the soft patina that gives earlier handmade jewellery so much character. Nothing feels overly polished or perfected. The beauty lies in the materials, the handwork and that extraordinary abundance of turquoise.
 
Why it’s so special
 
Finding vintage turquoise jewellery with this much beautiful natural stone is something special. Fine turquoise with an even, intense blue is particularly prized. 
 
A Little Piece of its Story
 
This treasure comes with its own illustrated Collector’s Card, created especially for the necklace and filled with details of its history, turquoise and craftsmanship. A beautiful little keepsake to accompany your treasure, allowing its story to travel with it and be treasured alongside it for years to come.
 
Condition and Character
 
This necklace is in beautiful vintage condition.
The turquoise presents wonderfully, and the sterling silver findings have developed a lovely natural patina over the decades. As you would expect from individually shaped natural turquoise, each nugget has its own form and character.
 
🧚‍♀️ A Little Note from the Antique Fairy 
As with all vintage darlings, these pieces have lived a life or two and may have tiny surface scratches here or there as part of their story. I do my very best to capture any little whispers of wear in photos and notes. I also try to photograph each treasure in different light so you can see the colour as clearly as possible. Even so, tones may vary a little from screen to screen.
If you have any questions or just want to chat about this treasure, feel free to reach out 😊