Likely c. 1970s
The ring features a large rectangular turquoise cabochon set in a substantial sterling silver mounting. The sides are decorated with simple hand-cut stampwork resembling mountains, feathers, or traditional Navajo geometric motifs. The overall design emphasizes the stone itself—a hallmark of classic Navajo jewelry, where the turquoise is the centerpiece and the silver serves as a frame rather than competing for attention.
The brown webbing and "cracks" are actually the stone's matrixstone's matrix—the host rock that remained attached to the turquoise when it formed underground. Because the surface is smooth and polished, these are not fractures but part of the stone's natural character.
The bright robin's-egg blue color with golden-brown matrix is highly desirable and reminiscent of material from famous Southwestern mines such as:
Meaning of Turquoise to the Navajo
For the Navajo people, turquoise is far more than a decorative stone.
Turquoise is traditionally associated with:
The vivid blue color evokes both water and the heavens—two sacred forces in the arid Southwest. Historically, turquoise was often carried as a protective talisman and incorporated into ceremonial objects.
Traditional Navajo belief holds that turquoise can:
Many Navajo stories connect turquoise to rain clouds, lightning, and the sky itself. Because water is precious in the desert, turquoise became a powerful symbol of life and abundance.
Silver also carries significance in Navajo tradition.
Prior to the arrival of European silver coinage in the 1800s, jewelry was made from shell, stone, and other natural materials. Navajo silversmithing developed during the mid-19th century and became one of the defining art forms of the Southwest.
Silver represents:
The combination of silver and turquoise came to symbolize both earth and sky—one of the most recognizable visual expressions of Navajo artistry.
The stone has excellent color and the matrix creates a striking "webbed" appearance that collectors often prefer over plain blue stones.