Jewelry

[AliJoi5]

Always appreciative of your input @Kachina624!  And thanks so much for the compliment!!  I spoke with Jacob of the Turquoise Museum via email, and he was the one who told me about the lesser seen dark blue/smoky black matrixed variations of bisbee.  But he couldn't give me a definite answer either way from my photos, and told me it might be worthwhile to send the necklace to them for an in-person eval.  But I think I'll pass for now... that's an extra $100 I need to spend elsewhere at the moment (like on food and shelter!). 

I loved the necklace anyway, so I figured what the heck.  But I too prefer the brilliant blue stones with chocolate matrix.  And, again, your charm bracelet (and ring) are just glorious!!  I hope you wear them often and don't just save them for "pretty," as my mother used to say!

Anyway, look at this spread of bisbee... wow, something for everyone in that parcel.

But I covet this bunch the most I think!

[AliJoi5]

Kachina, yes, I am planning that trip in my dreams!  hee hee  But I'll tell you, it is #1 on my list of places to see in our great country.  I do hope to get there in the next 12 months if I can. 

And now seems like a good time to thank you for all of your contributions to this board (and to me, specifically... lol).  You always have something interesting to say, and my goodness woman, you are filled to the brim with useful information!!

[Kachina624]

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@AliJoi5 wrote:

Kachina, yes, I am planning that trip in my dreams!  hee hee  But I'll tell you, it is #1 on my list of places to see in our great country.  I do hope to get there in the next 12 months if I can. 

And now seems like a good time to thank you for all of your contributions to this board (and to me, specifically... lol).  You always have something interesting to say, and my goodness woman, you are filled to the brim with useful information!!

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@AliJoi5. That happens when you get really old; you're filled to the brim with useful (and useless) information.  Thanks for the compliment.

[Kachina624]

@AliJoi5. Are you familiar with Jim Sanders who sells many cabs on eBay under the name Seagull23?  He's quite a character and says he at one time sold jewelry on QVC.  It must have been many, many years ago.

Anyway, he's a big fan of Bisbee and seems to know a lot about it.  He says it's the up and coming most desirable turquoise, so you might have a real investment piece.

[AliJoi5]

I am not familiar with him, but I'll be sure to check out his store.  I used to buy a lot of loose stones, but not so much anymore.  I did pick up a couple of nice chrysoprase stones a while back, and Henry Yazzie is creating the pieces for me (a pendant and ring).  I really wanted something in that stone, but couldn't find it in any Native American pieces.  I suppose it's not a stone they typically utilize.  In any event, I've budgeted for those pieces, but then that's it for me for a looong while.  I'm slowing way down. 

I know you're not a big fan of kingman... and I don't blame you, seeing as how many inferior and heavily treated stones from that mine we're seeing nowadays... but it has surprisingly become a favorite of mine in the right quality.  For an entire year, I had been ogling this necklace over at Perry Null Trading.  It's a little out of my comfort zone size-wise, but I was just so in love with the stones, that I had to save up to grab it.  Unfortunately, it arrived with a solder problem on one of the jump rings, so they are currently reinforcing it.  Bummed me out, because I don't want to have to worry about a piece like this down the road.  Anyway, it's natural, untreated kingman.  I was mesmerized by all of the quartz host rock...

Here's a pic of the artist (Aaron Toadlena... one of my favorites) with the necklace.  The matching cuff is still available, along with the earrings (I guess they hadn't added the shepherd's hooks to them yet in this photo).  lol  They're on there now.

A better look at the cuff and earrings (still sans hooks!) in case anyone is interested...

[Kachina624]

@AliJoi5. Is that tan in the stone pyrite?  You can never tell in photos.  You just can't beat a beautiful blue stone.  I think you favor them too.  One thing about Kingman...they've got some of every color and matrix pattern.  The prime Kingman is fine; it's what that they do to the rest of it that I dislike.

Toadlena is a very common Navajo name.  Seems like there is a trading post by that name and a lot of weavers from that area.  They're probably all related.

[AliJoi5]

@Kachina624  The matrix seems to be mostly quartz, but I did spy some pretty good chunks of pyrite in a few of the stones.  The turq in person is a brilliant true blue... probably the finest I own, speaking in terms of color and size.  But I am worried about the necklace holding up now since it had that soldering problem on one of the jump rings.  It's heavy, you know, so there's a lot of stress on the solder joints.  I told them it has to come back to me impeccably repaired or I won't be able to trust it.  Can you imagine stones like that being damaged from the piece falling off my neck?  Just the thought makes me shutter! 

That's interesting about the Toadlena family having a trading post.  I will have to check that out.  Aaron uses lots of star shots, which might be why I'm drawn to his pieces.  Love me some stars. 

Hope you're enjoying your weekend my friend!!

[Kachina624]

@patbz,@Alijoi5  It's not that the Toadlenas have a trading post; it's an area on the Navajo Reservation.  Usually an Anglo owned the trading posts.  There are books on the early trading posts from the wives of the owners points of views.  Very interesting reading.

I had to have one of the crosses on my Bisbee bracelet soldered.  It was under my hand when I pushed up from an arm chair and got pulled off.

Here's an item on eBay you and other turquoise/charm bracelet fans must check out.  Item# 252187711368.  Very unique.  Be sure to check out the backs.

[AliJoi5]

Relieved I'm not the only person with solder problems @Kachina624!  Happy to hear your beautiful bracelet is as good as new.

I thought that was a pretty turq charm bracelet before I checked out the backs.  Wow... a lot of work went into that piece!  I love the incorporation of cast/soldered charms surrounded by the traditional stamping.  Very cool!

I'm in no way comparing these to the majesty of that or any other fine charm bracelet, of course, but here are pix of a couple of vintage CP bracelets I have.  Thought you might have or be familiar with them too, Kachina.  I really love the Route 66 one.  They're just little cheap fun pieces to have...

[Kachina624]

@AliJoi5.  I have a fully loaded CP charm bracelet with a few extras that won't fit on the bracelet but my favorite is my Gems en Vogue/Michael Valatutti charm bracelet with a strong turquoise theme.  His charms are exquisite.

Do you find that you wear your CP or your Indian-made pieces most often?  I've got CP pieces I've never even worn.  I bet you do too.

I thought that eBay bracelet was really unique.  I envy the person who gets to wear it.