Vintage Navajo Turquoise and Silver Multi Stone Inlay Bracelet

Our one-of-a-kind vintage Navajo inlay cuff is an extraordinary composition of color and stone, bringing together turquoise, lapis lazuli, sugilite and vivid orange and purple spiny oyster shell in a striking mosaic. Bold and wonderfully unexpected, the piece has an almost painterly quality, with dozens of individually cut elements fitted together to create an abstract landscape of brilliant color. The beauty of this type of inlay lies in both its precision and its individuality. Each tiny section of stone and shell must be cut, shaped and carefully fitted against its neighbor before the entire surface is polished to a smooth, lustrous finish. Here, brilliant blues and greens of turquoise are interspersed with deep cobalt lapis, rich purple sugilite and flashes of orange and violet spiny oyster. Natural matrix remains visible in several of the turquoise sections, adding another layer of pattern and character to the composition. The large oval mosaic is surrounded by beautifully worked sterling silver and set upon a substantial multi-band cuff. The restraint of the silver setting provides a wonderful counterpoint to the exuberance of the inlay, allowing the remarkable collection of colors and materials to command attention. Jean Marie scours the Southwest searching for unusual vintage Native American jewelry, and this is precisely the kind of piece that captures her eye. It feels rooted in the great traditions of Southwestern stonework while possessing a remarkably contemporary sensibility—the brilliant bridging of cultures, materials and artistic traditions that makes Native American jewelry so compelling. Completely one of a kind, this is less simply a bracelet than a miniature mosaic to be worn on the wrist: sculptural, colorful and unmistakably individual. Gap 1.25" Inner circumference 5.5" Fits medium wrist Made in USA