REAL Native American Jewelry~
- Thread starter susieserb
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I get what you're saying about not wanting to take your belts to just anyone. I bet some of the shops or trading posts out west that specialize in NA jewelry could either do it or recommend someone. Also, there is a guy named Chuck Pinnell that does amazing custom leather work; I'm sure he would do a great job. I have no relation to him, but I'll post a link if you're interested.
https://www.pinnellcustomleather.com/
I agree that you should get them redone though, they are too beautiful not to wear!
Good info. I'd also recommend the Tom Taylor leather shop in Santa Fe. This is a TDF place.
https://tomtaylorbuckles.com/
I just love you and wish I had 1/3rd your knowledge about Native American jewelry and artwork. You prompted a memory for me, in that I think that the gentleman at Samsville told me woman's name made it, and I was to oblivious to remember anything important. At any rate, I love all my pieces, small as they are. And that is the fun of snagging something when someone who has information and knowledge can tell you a bit of a story behind a simple piece.
Please everyone.. post how you wear those concho belts. I did an image search and it looks like a good way to corral blousy tops without scrunching at waist and feeling all confined...yes? I have to go back and look at OrbitOrange’s post earlier..was that one not on leather?
Mine are both on black leather. I like to wear them with skirts and dresses, although mine are both small enough to thread through jeans and I wear them that way as well. Here's another pic from the other night that shows a little more of the outfit.
Does anyone else have concho belts to share? Jelly?
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You're so sweet.
I am delighted to share whatever I've learned with the lovely aficionados here. We all learn together--plus we now have one awesome model for styling these amazing pieces (all hail @OrbitOrange).
Wonderful!!
I had one briefly, an incredible Hopi style overlay that I couldn't figure out whether it was Navajo made (but I think so), and then I let it go bc it was bulky and heavy wearing. I simply love the concho belt as a form and wouldn't mind hanging a rack of them in a room for display, a la Ralph Lauren or whatever...but the truth is, I will be hunting one scaled smaller, like yours, probably sooner rather than later!
You probably know this but just for thread fun, it was Joe Quintana who made the now legendary Jim Morrison concho belt. Now that is a piece of rock history.
I know! There was a thread on Turquoise People about what is your "grail peice" of NA jewelry and that was my choice. What an amazing combination of NA and rock 'n roll history. It's been lost which is such a shame; it would be an great peice for the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame museum.
I think THAT is the way to do it! Beautiful...OO...….
Thanks for the info! Plus I can ask Garlands Native American Rugs and Jewelry if they know anyone...since I have bought from them recently, they are nice guys.
Definitely! Let us know if you get it done and how it goes.
I need advice from jellyv or anyone else with the expertise to answer me! Crazing vs. cracks on turquoise: obviously cracks are bad. Is crazing something to be avoided? It seems to happen more on stones with "bumpy" or "pitty" matrix, am I right about that? Is a craze more likely to develop into a crack over time? Thanks as always for your help 
I need advice from jellyv or anyone else with the expertise to answer me! Crazing vs. cracks on turquoise: obviously cracks are bad. Is crazing something to be avoided? It seems to happen more on stones with "bumpy" or "pitty" matrix, am I right about that? Is a craze more likely to develop into a crack over time? Thanks as always for your help
This is a complicated question, of course. Cracking is clear through a stone, or at least deep, while crazing is superficial, confined to the surface level (more or less). Problem is, the long-term stability of a crazed stone is a guess for a lay person; probably it would take a gemologist's exam to know for sure if the craze has unsettled the stone long term. My feeling is that crazing is (1) not to be expected routinely for bumpy matrix and (2) acceptable more for old stones than recent work, all things considered. I've had pieces with bumpy or dimensional matrix that are entirely free of crazing, so that's why I see them as separate issues.
But for die hard collectors, it always comes down to rarity and aesthetics. If a special piece has some crazing and the seller is trustworthy enough to assure you it's sound, or else you have an emotional response to the piece and just love it, then let that puppy into your life.
I myself am on the conservative side regarding stone integrity. But one piece in my collection has a crazed piece of coral, but it's so great I still had to buy it. And hope for the best.
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This is a complicated question, of course. Cracking is clear through a stone, or at least deep, while crazing is superficial, confined to the surface level (more or less). Problem is, the long-term stability of a crazed stone is a guess for a lay person; probably it would take a gemologist's exam to know for sure if the craze has unsettled the stone long term. My feeling is that crazing is (1) not to be expected routinely for bumpy matrix and (2) acceptable more for old stones than recent work, all things considered. I've had pieces with bumpy or dimensional matrix that are entirely free of crazing, so that's why I see them as separate issues.
But for die hard collectors, it always comes down to rarity and aesthetics. If a special piece has some crazing and the seller is trustworthy enough to assure you it's sound, or else you have an emotional response to the piece and just love it, then let that puppy into your life.
I myself am on the conservative side regarding stone integrity. But one piece in my collection has a crazed piece of coral, but it's so great I still had to buy it. And hope for the best.
Thanks for your insights. There is a bracelet that I've been looking at online for a little while now that I just love. The thing that is giving me hesitation is that the picture provided looks to show some superficial crazing in the stones. Only one picture is online so I've e-mailed the (reputable) seller asking for more pics and if there are any problems with the stones. It's not cheap so I'd really hate to buy it and find out that the stones don't hold up. Would you mind taking a look and letting me know your thoughts? As you said above, I'm sure it's impossible to know for sure if the integrity of the stone is truly damaged but I'd love to know your impressions anyway.
Wow that is a STUNNING cuff. I assume these are natural stones, yes? I see two tiny hairlines, one in the center stone at 11 o"clock and the other in the right-most stone running diagonally from 7 to 1. Is that what you're seeing? The top stone has some intense matrix action, including at about the 2 position, but I expect this is all just in the stone.
Minor stuff like this doesn't remotely impinge upon the piece aesthetically, IMO. There's too much beauty in these stones and the silverwork to see this as problematic. But for your further comfort, maybe ask the seller if the stones all are smooth and regular to the finger touch (I think the answer will be yes), vs. catching on any craze; and also how the stones look under a loupe. If all have integrity, there's no worry, and don't let it get away! I've been hunting an interesting sandcast piece myself, a form I don't yet have...most of the old ones are kind of fotched together looking, because the turq is often a later add-on to the silverwork.
Minor stuff like this doesn't remotely impinge upon the piece aesthetically, IMO. There's too much beauty in these stones and the silverwork to see this as problematic. But for your further comfort, maybe ask the seller if the stones all are smooth and regular to the finger touch (I think the answer will be yes), vs. catching on any craze; and also how the stones look under a loupe. If all have integrity, there's no worry, and don't let it get away! I've been hunting an interesting sandcast piece myself, a form I don't yet have...most of the old ones are kind of fotched together looking, because the turq is often a later add-on to the silverwork.