An elongated turquoise sterling silver hand made ring. This unusual and striking ring features a stunning, hand selected and cut, piece of turquoise with eye catching metal deposits running almost through the center of it. The shank on this ring is made in the concho style of Native American jewellery making. This unique piece of turquoise picked out for the ring is framed by a classic hand cut and worked smooth edge rub over setting.
The "cigar band' shank of the ring focuses on the design of a "Concho" motif. The word Concho, or Concha, derives from the Spanish for shell. The first phase pieces were made from melted coins and resembled shells, and so this is thought to be where the name originated. This motif is perhaps best known from the iconic belts worn by member of mainly the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi tribes. These designs of the early belts were heavily influenced by the Spanish and Mexican hardware found on the bridal hardware from the 1700 and 1800's
The type of turquoise selected as the center stone in this ring is an Kingman Spiderweb turquoise is a variety of Kingman turquoise that has a unique pattern. It can be blue, green, or somewhere in between, and can have a variety of matrix colors and patterns. This particular piece has a stunning sky blue colour. They also can feature these amazing deposits of metal in them, as such in this case.
The Kingman mine is in Mohave County in western Arizona. The copper mining in the Mineral Park Mining District around Kingman has produced a vast supply of turquoise throughout the years. The matrix is what is most desirable about this variety of stone. There have been thirty different colours of Kingman mine turquoise discovered over the years, a site that has been mined by the Native Americans for hundreds of years. The more unique the patterns found in this gemstone, the more desirable. Gemstones with spider web, and water web patterns command the highest prices. The term 'spider web' refers to the host rock that forms a spider web matrix, while the term 'water web' refers to refers to darker turquoise that separates sections of lighter turquoise within the same stones. This particular stone has fine and quite small spider webbing throughout it. Unusual for such a large stone, and additionally with such a rich light blue colour.
Like most high quality pieces this ring is signed on the inside of the shank; "JM" for James Martin. Mr. Martin is a jeweller from the Navajo tribe. He has made a wide collection of jewellry in his years of making. We have not been able to find another example like this. It is also stamped "Lucky", which we believe to have been a retail business that retailed a number of Native jewellery makers jewellery. It appears to no longer be in business.
If you are looking for a statement ring that reflects the art and beauty of Native American jewellery at its best, it is hard to look past this ring. The ring is a size 13. This ring can be sized down a little, and up if required at the back. There is a piece that can be removed or added to.
