Jeffrey Nelson - Navajo Sterling Silver
Navajo Pearls
Graduated Stamped Bead Necklace
HK Item #BD881

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Authentic Native American Sterling Silver stamped graduated bead necklace by Navajo Jeffrey Nelson

material	sterling silver, Read about silver
bead size	9 mm beads at ends graduating to 19 mm center bead
hallmarks	stamped on cones: J. Nelson Sterling
artist	Jeffrey Nelson, Navajo

Authentic Native American Sterling Silver stamped graduated bead necklace by Navajo Jeffrey Nelson

Stamped sterling silver beads on foxtail.

Authentic Native American Sterling Silver stamped graduated bead necklace by Navajo Jeffrey Nelson

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Bead Size Equivalents
mm	inches	mm	inches	mm	inches
6	1/4	13	1/2	22	7/8
7	9/32	14	9/16	25	1
8	5/16	15	37/64	32	1 1/4
9	3/8	16	5/8	38	1 1/2
10	25/64	17	21/32	45	1 3/4
11	27/64	18	45/64	51	2
12	15/32	19	3/4

Jeffrey Nelson - Navajo Sterling Silver
Graduated Stamped Bead Necklace

Paula says - "These are hand made sterling silver Navajo beads. Each bead is hand drawn, punched for holes, stamped, soldered, polished and hand strung on foxtail.

"These handmade sterling silver bead necklaces are often called Navajo Pearls or Desert Pearls."

Authentic Native American Sterling Silver stamped graduated bead necklace by Navajo Jeffrey Nelson

Sterling silver cone ends with hook and eye clasp.

See Necklace Extenders

Authentic Native American Sterling Silver stamped graduated bead necklace by Navajo Jeffrey Nelson

Foxtail is a fine, strong chain made with two rows of oval links arranged at 45° to one another and connected by small flat links running down the chain’s centre. This creates a braided or woven effect with a directional grain and a fullness which gives the appearance of the hairs on a fox’s tail. Foxtail withstands the constant friction of beads moving around without fraying, breaking or stretching out of shape and is often used for stringing large or heavy beads that could cut or damage cord or string.

Excerpt from Paula's blog:

All About Navajo Pearls
Everything You Need to Know About Sterling Silver Native American Beads

Authentic Native American sterling silver Navajo Pearl beads are getting more difficult to find as they are very labor intensive to make. There are many sterling silver bead necklaces available but if you want Native American handmade Navajo Pearls, it will help to know more about them before you buy.

How Navajo Pearls are Made

Handmade (hand made) beads are very labor intensive, being entirely hand crafted: cutting, stamping, dapping, drilling, soldering, filing, polishing, stringing is all done by hand. Because each bead is made individually, there might be slight variations from bead to bead.
Bench made Beads (Bench Beads) start with some machine cut pieces, which are then soldered. The seam is usually fairly prominent.

Graduated beads usually consist of 5 sizes of beads. There is often one large bead at the center and the others graduate smaller from the center toward the ends.

Most Navajo Pearls are strung on foxtail, which is a strong woven silver cord that can be sterling silver, nickel or other metals.

Weight of Sterling Silver Beads

The final weight of a necklace depends on the gauge, or thickness, of the sterling silver sheet that is used to make the beads. Weight affects drape - a heavier necklace often hangs with a smoother shape than a lighter one.

Choosing a Length of Navajo Pearls

A choker is a small necklace that fits comfortably around the neck and is perfect for peeking out from underneath an open collared shirt or displayed openly when wearing a tank top, a V-neck tee shirt or halter top. Most women wear a choker size 16-19”. Chokers are ideal for use with pendants. Navajo pearls in the 19-22 inch range are great for wearing over a collared shirt, a sweater or a turtleneck – the added length gives the space need for over-the-clothing use.Longer necklaces, those up to 28 inches in length can be used alone or in combination with fetish, heishi or squash blossom necklaces.

Jeffrey Nelson - Navajo Sterling Silver Navajo PearlsGraduated Stamped Bead Necklace HK Item #BD881

All About Navajo Pearls Everything You Need to Know About Sterling Silver Native American Beads

How Navajo Pearls are Made

Weight of Sterling Silver Beads

Choosing a Length of Navajo Pearls

Jeffrey Nelson - Navajo Sterling Silver
Navajo Pearls
Graduated Stamped Bead Necklace
HK Item #BD881

All About Navajo Pearls
Everything You Need to Know About Sterling Silver Native American Beads