REAL Native American Jewelry~
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Necklace is very cool~Lindsay could pull off even a bigger piece to really bring down the house...Hi all! I found this pic of Lindsay in the H forum, though it is not her best picture, I thought her necklace was cool and unusual.
JellyV I also ordered one of the books you suggested as I had an extra 20% off coupon at B&N. I cant wait to receive it!!
JellyV I also ordered one of the books you suggested as I had an extra 20% off coupon at B&N. I cant wait to receive it!!
Hope you enjoy it! It's got very informative text along with great photos. The author is a famous writer on jewelry/adornment, wrote one of the definitive books on the history of beads.
Love this thread! So much great knowledge here. Got about half way through and had to post a comment.
I have been collecting NA early turquoise for a few years and have build up the very beginnings of a collection. Mostly I stumble across pieces at antique shows and flea markets. Have to try stuff on before I can buy it.
I have a couple reference of books I'll try to dig them out later and post the titles, they are in deep storage right now.
Here is a photo of my two fave and most worn summer pieces.
I have been collecting NA early turquoise for a few years and have build up the very beginnings of a collection. Mostly I stumble across pieces at antique shows and flea markets. Have to try stuff on before I can buy it.
I have a couple reference of books I'll try to dig them out later and post the titles, they are in deep storage right now.
Here is a photo of my two fave and most worn summer pieces.
Forgive my ignorance, but is that a ring and a bracelet? They're fabulously beautiful. I love the color of their turquoise and the stones' patterning. I love to hunt out NA jewelry at antique shows too, but sadly it seems like all the antique shows have vanished from these parts. Ebay has killed them off apparently. Has anyone else noticed this in their part of the country?
Yes it is BigSuePurse, apologies for the iffy pic. Using my phone right now, sometimes not so good.
There are fewer dealers and shows here too but I find it's all about relationships. Let any dealers you like know that you collect NA jewelley and giving them you ph# is a good start.
The ring came form a high end designer consignment store. It was cheap as the clientele were not knowledgeable or interested. Bracelet came from a craft fair with a small room of "antiques"
There are fewer dealers and shows here too but I find it's all about relationships. Let any dealers you like know that you collect NA jewelley and giving them you ph# is a good start.
The ring came form a high end designer consignment store. It was cheap as the clientele were not knowledgeable or interested. Bracelet came from a craft fair with a small room of "antiques"
This is exactly why I don't buy turquoise despite loving the look.
An incredible amount of "genuine turquoise" is dyed howlite, genuine veined rocks marinated in blue pigment. The rest of anything resembling turqouise chemically is almost always "reconstituted," meaning turquoise too soft to be "stabilized," or basically blue mud, is ground up and solidified in a resin matrix. Anything left after that is almost always "stabilized" turquoise, basically vibrant blue soft rock that has been impregnated with resin but was never ground up like "reconstituted." Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co. use stabilized turquoise.
Pretty much anything that can be worn straight from the ground (after cutting/tumbling of course) has already been mined, especially in the U.S. And since it's been exposed to air for decades to centuries, it has often oxidized green. Distinguishing what is what is nearly impossible without destroying the piece being evaluated.
Also be aware of doublet genuine turquoise, thin slabs of untreated turquoise so fragile that they have to be cemented to boulder rock. This type should always be disclosed but almost never is.
Decent quality untreated material from U.S. mines routinely goes for $200-$1000+ per carat.
Nonetheless some beautiful pics! Millicent's hoard was probably exemplary material. She should be better recognized as a fashion icon, a Dietrich caliber beauty with Southwestern sensibility. So chic!
I feel differently about this. I think so long as the consumer isn't deceived and is content with the purchase, people can enjoy turquoise in whatever way they can afford and at whatever knowledge base they care to develop. I personally collect natural, untreated American mined jewelry, after years of learning and upgrading. To me, as long as dealers honestly represent what they sell (which they are legally bound to do), and customers who don't buy directly from dealers realize that there's a wide variation in types and quality and accept that, the various treatments of turquoise are a very old story. It's always been highly prized, and not abundant, and imitated.
Agree that the Millicent Rogers collection is one of the great ones.
Agree that the Millicent Rogers collection is one of the great ones.
Sorry JellyV, meant to quote BigPurseSue from 7/5/14 11:58 responding to your quote, not yours. I mean to say that all the misrepresentation is why I don't buy turquoise gems at a premium. I personally don't have the expertise to distinguish material for myself.
I agree that stabilized gems are for the best if you want your turquoise to stay blue, and the other types are great as long as you're not being charged a premium and being told it's untreated, which is unfortunately common in the turquoise trade.
I agree that stabilized gems are for the best if you want your turquoise to stay blue, and the other types are great as long as you're not being charged a premium and being told it's untreated, which is unfortunately common in the turquoise trade.
Well put jellyv!
I have all sorts but still a very small collection compared to some of the posters here but every piece was bought for a reason. I have several nieces and some rings and things will go to them next time I see them. The turquoise and coral is ok but not the best, perfect for students.
Last year I found a new stabilized strand of good sized and nicely coloured stones at a fair price. A friend made the one strand into three by adding fake pearls. Now I and my two sisters each have a strand. I'd never split a vintage strand or find three of similar size and quality so this worked out well.
I have a three small hair combs, the turquoise is dyed too but just finding combs with turquoise was a huge thing and they make me very happy. Some day maybe a fine vintage piece will turn up but hair combs are made to be worn and do fall out and sometimes break or get lost.
I think the ancient Egyptians and Romans had altered turquoise and other stones.
I have all sorts but still a very small collection compared to some of the posters here but every piece was bought for a reason. I have several nieces and some rings and things will go to them next time I see them. The turquoise and coral is ok but not the best, perfect for students.
Last year I found a new stabilized strand of good sized and nicely coloured stones at a fair price. A friend made the one strand into three by adding fake pearls. Now I and my two sisters each have a strand. I'd never split a vintage strand or find three of similar size and quality so this worked out well.
I have a three small hair combs, the turquoise is dyed too but just finding combs with turquoise was a huge thing and they make me very happy. Some day maybe a fine vintage piece will turn up but hair combs are made to be worn and do fall out and sometimes break or get lost.
I think the ancient Egyptians and Romans had altered turquoise and other stones.
