DESCRIPTION: Antique collectible Navajo artisan handmade sterling silver unisex design cuff bracelet with large turquoise stone with desirable matrix. According to experts, at this date, there is not enough Turquoise being mined to fill the domestic or the international demand, and most of the top mines have closed. Turquoise is becoming rare. This kind of vintage quality is why we love it so much...heavy sturdy precious metal, handmade artisan craftsmanship and distinctive design. You will love this piece. MORE INFO BELOW DESCRIPTION. SIZE / MEASUREMENTS: Currently sized for a 6 1/2 inch wrist with some flexibility for a custom fit. 7/8 inch wide at the front. MARKINGS / HALLMARKS: Stamped 'STERLING'. MATERIALS: Sterling silver, natural turquoise. CONDITION: Beautiful vintage condition with only minor indications of prior use and the light surface burnish on the metal expected in a piece of this age. I clean vintage pieces by gently washing with dish soap (vintage patina is good, vintage dirt and germs are bad!) Then I usually give a quick surface buff with a silver cleaning cloth to bring up the contrast, leaving the natural patina of age in the details to enhance its beauty. GIFT BOX INCLUDED, ready to give or just to enjoy! OPTIONAL SHIPPING UPGRADE : I ship fast, usually the day you order, using USPS FIRST CLASS MAIL (1-5 days ), but for an additional cost you can purchase an upgrade to PRIORITY MAIL (1-3 days) at checkout if you wish. FREE SHIPPING INSURANCE ON INTERNATIONAL ORDERS :) FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE METAPHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES OF STONES: Turquoise is perhaps the oldest stone in man's history, the talisman of kings, shamans, and warriors. It is a stone of protection, strong and opaque, yet soothing to the touch, healing to the eye, as if carved from an azure heaven and slipped to earth. It is the symbol of friendship and also brings peace to the home. Turquoise carries great wisdom of basic truth within it. NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY OF THE SOUTHWEST: There are several tribes in the Arizona and New Mexico area of the Southwest USA that make very beautiful and distinctive jewelry, including the Hopi and Santa Domingo Pueblo, but the Navajo and Zuni tribes are the most prolific and well known. Their stunning sterling silver jewelry, each tribe with their own distinctive design elements and symbolic representations, have become iconic. Navajo silversmiths have historically been the most recognizable in the marketplace, but there are highly collectible pieces worth noting from each tribe. The 'rule of thumb' for distinguishing what it is you are looking at and where it came from is that the Navajo tend to design their jewelry around a centerpiece stone or stones, the Zuni tend to incorporate stones into the overall design.
