Tag Archives: beads

Traditional handmade Native American Indian Jewelry from Indigenous Pueblos of the Southwest. Dominating the neckline with its impressive scale and rustic character, this vintage Diné (Navajo) necklace is a masterclass in the “Old Style” aesthetic. The strand is anchored by a series of hand-polished darling Darlene turquoise chunks that exhibit a deep, mossy green to sky-blue color palette, each heavily webbed with a rich, chocolate-brown natural matrix. These substantial focal stones are balanced by hand-burnished sterling silver beads-often referred to as “Navajo Pearls”-which provide a smooth, metallic contrast to the organic, jagged edges of the turquoise. Finished with traditional silver hook this piece carries a commanding weight and a timeless, rugged elegance. The mid-20th-century era of Navajo jewelry was defined by this bold use of large-scale turquoise, a period where artisans moved away from delicate work to showcase the raw power of the stone itself. In the Diné tradition, turquoise of this size and quality was not just jewelry, but a literal representation of the wearer’s connection to the earth and their personal prosperity. Each turquoise in this necklace has been carefully selected and drilled to ensure it sits flat against the chest, creating a powerful silhouette that is as much a cultural statement as it is an accessory. For the collector who values the unrefined, elemental beauty of historic Southwestern materials, this necklace serves as a definitive centerpiece. Mesures 28¾ long total weight 53.1grams Darling Darlene. Named for the beloved daughter who died as a young woman, Darling Darlene was discovered and mined by Joe Barredo and his son-in-law in the early 70’s. Hard, gem quality turquoise in a color range from light and dark blue to greens come out of this mine, producing another wonderful collectible turquoise from Nevada. Today the mine is part of a gold mining operation.