Description

This impressive vintage Navajo ring is built as a long, sculptural composition around two large blue turquoise cabochons set point-to-point in sterling silver. Each teardrop stone is individually secured in a smooth, hand-fitted bezel and mounted on an elongated sterling backplate, then framed by a substantial raised border worked with repeating scalloped and chisel-like details. The settings narrow toward one another at the center, creating an hourglass arrangement that lets the turquoise dominate nearly the entire face.

The silverwork through the center is especially well done. A separately fabricated leaf is applied to each side, each formed with three rounded lobes and deeply hand-stamped with radiating cuts, long central veins, and fine repeated lines. Large polished silver drops sit between the leaves and turquoise settings, while deeply recessed oxidized areas emphasize the relief of the applied work. The leaves and drops bridge the two settings so the entire face reads as one carefully constructed composition.

The reverse shows the substantial construction clearly. Both turquoise settings share a long sterling backplate, and the shank divides into two rounded branches on each side before being soldered at four widely spaced points beneath the face. This split construction supports the unusually long setting while keeping the ring open beneath the decorative work.

Unsigned and unmarked; the silver tests as sterling silver.

Measurements & Specifications

• Weight: 13.4 grams
• Material: Sterling Silver (tested and confirmed), Turquoise
• Main Stone: Turquoise
• Stone Color: Blue
• Stone Characteristics: Light matrix and small host-rock inclusions
• Stone Shape: Teardrop
• Number of Gemstones: 2
• Setting Type: Smooth Bezel
• Stone Measurements: LS: 0.85 in L x 0.68 in W (21.6 mm x 17.2 mm)
• Ring Face Measurements: 1.92 in L x 0.83 in W (48.8 mm x 21.1 mm)
• Shank Style: Split Shank with Four-Point Attachment
• Ring Size: 4
• Design: Opposing Two-Stone Turquoise with Applied Leafwork
• Technique: Hand Fabrication, Bezel Setting, Applied Silverwork, Hand Stamping, Chiseling, Silver Drops, Split-Shank Construction
• Signed/Unsigned: Unsigned
• Hallmarked: No
• Culture: Native American
• Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
• Country of Origin: United States
• Era: Late 20th Century
• Decade: 1970s
• Style: Navajo Southwestern