topic Re: Turquoise Alert in Jewelry

Turquoise Alert

Kachina624 — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 23:31:35 GMT

This gentleman, Chester Mahooty, was apparently well known as a character in the Navajo Nation for his extravagant turquoise jewelry. The set he is wearing in the picture weighs about 65 lbs. He was once pictured in a National Geographic article on turquoise.

So do you think this would fit in Colleen's Prestige boxes or would you be constantly polishing it by hand? Full-time job?

Re: Turquoise Alert

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 23:35:39 GMT

Wow.

Re: Turquoise Alert

Kachina624 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:03:44 GMT

Chester could balance a cocktail on his bracelet and, if wearing that huge pendant, wouldn't need a lobster bib.

Re: Turquoise Alert

rockygems123 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:18:52 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Chester could balance a cocktail on his bracelet and, if wearing that huge pendant, wouldn't need a lobster bib.

And balance a small child too! Have heard of him but have never seen his picture. Thank you for posting that, what a treat.

Just think of the very small amount of the real deal mined turquoise like that that is around. Stunning.

Re: Turquoise Alert

SharkE — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:32:55 GMT

man has a problem.

Bet he's putting out the wrong karma. somebody will knock him over the head and pawn it.

Re: Turquoise Alert

BlueFinch — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:58:33 GMT

Guess he never heard that -- sometimes less is more. He made a name for himself with his extravagant jewelry, though. The smile on his face tells me he loved it.

Re: Turquoise Alert

Kachina624 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 01:46:26 GMT

@SharkE wrote:
man has a problem.
Bet he's putting out the wrong karma. somebody will knock him over the head and pawn it.

@SharkE He no longer has a jewelry problem. He's dead. I bet whoever inherited those big pieces sold then to be cut down into more manageable cabs.

Re: Turquoise Alert

ECBG — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 01:56:08 GMT

WOW!!!

Re: Turquoise Alert

Kachina624 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 02:00:06 GMT

How about this belt buckle?

Re: Turquoise Alert

rockygems123 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 05:24:02 GMT

@Kachina624 The picture of the belt buckle is what I saw after seeing your post and looking him up online. So incredible. Didn't have a chance to look further but he was Zuni and a silversmith, found some of his classic Zuni inlay pieces online. However what he wears looks like Navajo. I know some Zuni & Navajo pieces can borrow looks and styles from each other but his pieces look so much like Navajo. Mystery, will research more tomorrow.

Re: Turquoise Alert

JoyFilled Warrior — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 06:29:03 GMT

@Kachina624

I think, if I owned THIS much turquoise, (& silver, & metal),

"I'd always sleep with one eye open!" For sure.

THANKS for sharing this info & pics!! Amazing!

Re: Turquoise Alert

Shanus — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 13:12:31 GMT

Great pic @Kachina624 . Thanks for sharing. yes, a lot of polishing necessary, but well worth the effort.

I will add that maybe you've found, too that if you wear any silver jewelry regularly, with or without stones, it needs less cleaning.

Re: Turquoise Alert

SilleeMee — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 13:56:58 GMT

Holy smokes!

I know it's a Navajo tradition to wear all of your jewelry when you leave your house so that any thieves wouldn't have anything to steal from your house but that guy takes it to the next level. I wonder what else he had?!

Re: Turquoise Alert

Jersey Born — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:20:32 GMT

Those are some big honkin' slabs of turquoise, for sure. I have only recently come to love turquoise, as I was for years only drawn to shiny, sparkly, faceted gemstones. I have a couple of Carolyn Pollack's turquoise necklaces, and they are truly spectacular in their depth of blue color. I finally "get" the passion so many have for opaque turquoise stones.

Chester's collection is so significant that it seems likely to be at least part of the reason that there is a shortage of turquoise in so many mines these days.

Thank you for sharing this, @Kachina624.

Re: Turquoise Alert

Kachina624 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:40:12 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
Great pic @Kachina624 . Thanks for sharing. yes, a lot of polishing necessary, but well worth the effort.

I will add that maybe you've found, too that if you wear any silver jewelry regularly, with or without stones, it needs less cleaning.

@Shanus Absolutely, wear your silver to keep it tarnish free. I've got a set of bangles I rarely remove that I've worn for over 20 years. They've never been polished and are bright and shiny.

Re: Turquoise Alert

chrystaltree — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:08:19 GMT

Wow......

Re: Turquoise Alert

skyblue — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 20:22:20 GMT

I'm getting an Iris Apfel vibe

Re: Turquoise Alert

GinaV24 — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:42:31 GMT

That's amazing @Kachina624 I don't think I could lift it if it weighed that much let alone put it in one of Colleen's jewelry boxes.

Re: Turquoise Alert

Kachina624 — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:46:39 GMT

@skyblue Iris and Chester would make a cute couple, wouldn't they?

Re: Turquoise Alert

Marciirene — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 02:13:56 GMT

That style is definitely Navajo!