Sterling Silver |
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Paula says - "This vintage bracelet is likely from the 1940s when most silver and stone work was done by hand and very few hallmarks were used. It wasn't until the 1950s that the Navajo Guild and other groups encouraged Native American artists to identify their work with hallmarks." Read about hallmarks. How to Choose and Fit a Cuff Bracelet |
Our Rescue Mission We are in the vintage Native American jewelry rescue business and are passionate about finding new homes for used and vintage jewelry. That's why we purchase Native American pieces from estates, inheritances, collection downsizing and New Old Stock (NOS) inventory from closed stores. Often people contact us after taking a box of Native American jewelry to their local pawn shop and find that a pawn shop is mainly interested in melt value of the metals and not in preserving the beautiful historic pieces. To hear that people have considered selling these treasures for melt value makes us truly sad. Melt value is usually far below what we would offer for the jewelry. Yet we can't pay retail price for items because of the time and cost involved in finding new homes for them. We have to research, often repair and restore the jewelry, photograph and list each item on our website, and sometimes hold pieces in inventory for years until the right buyer comes along. We hope you'll find something special in our vintage shop that will complete yet another circle of our jewelry re-homing mission. |
TURQUOISE
is associated with the sky, and bringing sky energy to earth. It is known as a
master healer stone as it is believed to help speed the healing process. It is
also thought that turquoise can help promote honest and clear communication from
the heart. Turquoise comes in all shades of blue, to blue-green and it is the natural variations in turquoise that make it appealing. The color of turquoise in American Indian jewelry ranges from brownish green to bright blue. Found in veins sandwiched in between layers of mother rock, turquoise can show some of the influence of the mother rock in its matrix or veining. The matrix colors range from blue to golden brown to black and sometimes with golden flecks. Many people prefer turquoise with matrix over clear stones. Read more about stones. |
NOTE: Items in our Vintage Shop are either USED or NEW. They might come from inheritances, estate sales, private collections, and store liquidations. Many items are brand new (, New Old Stock) and in perfect condition while others may show tarnish, scratches and other signs of use. Major issues will be described in detail and shown in photos. Vintage Shop items are sold as described and are not returnable |
Horsekeeping
LLC - Definitions of Jewelry Age and Condition © 2015 Horsekeeping LLC © Copyright Information | |
Patina | A dark or colored film of oxidation that forms naturally on metal exposure to air and other elements. It is often valued for its aesthetically pleasing appearance. |
Vintage | 30 years or older. |
NOS | New Old Stock. Retail store inventory from at least 10 years ago. |
Pre-owned | An item that has been used. |