Old Pawn Bracelets

There are nine natural turquoise stones on this bracelet that are in a beautiful range of colors from blues to greens. Untreated turquoise usually turns greener with age.  Circa 1940's, this is a real collector's item. Each stone was individually set in a saw-tooth bezel, surrounded with twisted silver wire and then soldered to the ribs of the cuff. The edges of the cuff are hand stamped.

The width of the bracelet at the center top is 1 1/8".  Total circumference is 7 1/4" including the opening.  The opening is 1 1/8". Inside dimension from side to side is 2 1/2" or 65 mm.  There are no defects and all stones are secure with no cracks.  But you can see in one photo that one of the stones has a small hole in it next to the bezel.  It is unsigned, which is normal for its age.  Due to the heaviness of the silver, and the way it is constructed, it is not possible to adjust the size of this bracelet.  It weighs almost 107 grams!

This bracelet has all the signs of being a reservation made piece for a member of the tribe.  When a Navajo man or woman wanted a piece of jewelry he went to a silversmith, usually a relative.  The piece was made to order and scaled to the wearer's size and build.  In most cases the buyer furnished the makings-silver, turquoise, old jewelry or whatever was needed.  From John Adair's book The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths:

 "Sheep, goats, or calves are common forms of payment, and by this exchange many smiths (jewelry makers) have built up large flocks.  Lacking cash, the buyers often secure credit at the trading post some desired object for the smith.  Turquoise or silver may be given for the jewelry, or the buyer may render some service to the smith, such as working in his fields or herding his sheep"...In summary, old pawn racks were rich and splendid sources of jewelry created by the finest Navajo silversmiths of their day, for their people, and uncontaminated by taste and influence of alien people and cultures."

If articles placed in pawn are not redeemed within the contractual length of time, the jewelry becomes "dead pawn" and may be sold by the trader.  $2200

This is a beautiful handcrafted old pawn bracelet set with seven square and rectangular genuine turquoise stones, circa 1940-50's.  Nice stamping work around both edges and exquisite twisted wire work. 

The beautiful turquoise is from the Smoky Valley Mine in Nevada. The Smoky Valley was relatively small and you rarely see this turquoise any more.  As you can see, the turquoise is a lovely medium blue color with very little matrix.

The total circumference of the bracelet is 7".  The opening is 1 1/2". It is about 7/8" wide at the center.  There are no defects and it is unsigned, which is typical of jewelry from this era.  $499

This is your opportunity to own, and wear, a piece of American history in the form of a lovely antique Native American made bracelet.  The stone is a unique piece of Cerrillos turquoise, from the oldest turquoise mine in North America, located in New Mexico.  It was first mined by Native American hundreds of years before the first Europeans came to our continent.   The design is perfectly simple, yet elegant and is made in very sturdy silver with intricate Navajo stamping designs. 

The total circumference of the bracelet is 7" including the opening.  The opening is 1 1/2". Width is about 3/4".  There are no defects and it is unsigned.  The weight is 41.6 grams.  $249

Native American Sterling Silver Bracelet Set With Rare High Quality Gem Grade Chrysocolla

This lovely bracelet is circa 1960-70's.  The top of the bracelet is 1 3/4" wide.  The total circumference is  6 5/8" including the opening of 1 5/8".  Inside dimension is 60 mm from side to side.  The chrysocolla gemstone is 35 mm by 23 mm.

It is in excellent condition, very well made and signed inside with a J over a feather. 

Chrysocolla has such an attractive blue-green colour and this one is really exceptional.  This bracelet has a large high quality gem grade stone that displays a bit of translucency to it.  Chrysocolla of this quality is very highly prized.  American sources of this stone are Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. 

Chrysocolla is often confused with turquoise, as it has many of the same visual qualities.  But it is nothing like turquoise, past the visual standpoint.  When chrysocolla is discovered in a greenish blue color, like this one, it is considered to be a very expensive gemstone as compared to other stones. This gemstone is rarely minded today, which is another reasons for its high value.

Many people believe this gemstone can be the messenger of peace, cordiality, wisdom and rationality. It is also believed to keep a person’s mind at peace and prohibits violent thoughts to cross his/her mind and reduces nervousness and irritation.  $495

Early Old Pawn Original Turquoise Cuff Bracelet Vintage 1940's Rustic

This is a very early bracelet, circa 1940's, and whoever made this bracelet was not the most accomplished silversmith in the country, but the fact that it is unrefined is what makes this bracelet so charming and unique.  The stones are old Kingman Mine turquoise that display the natural white matrix that is commonly found in this turquoise.  The stones are a lighter and more softer blue than you see nowadays because most Kingman is dyed a deep blue. 

This bracelet is a real collector's piece. 

I firmly believe it was made on the reservation as a special order for a tribe member by a silversmith using crude tools and was later pawned, although I have no pawn ticket to prove it. 

For its age, this bracelet is in excellent condition. None of the stones are cracked, and all are very stable. The width of the bracelet on top is 2".  The stone in the center is 20 mm by 12 mm.  The total circumference of the bracelet is 6 1/2" including the opening.  The opening is 1". Inside from side to side is 2 3/8" or 62 mm.  There are no defects and it is unsigned.  The weight is 81.3 grams and tests for sterling.  Adjusting the size of this bracelet is not recommended.  The silver ribs in the cuff are thick and would be hard to bens, you also don't want to risk unseating a stone. 

When a Navajo man or woman wanted a piece of jewelry they went to a silversmith, often a relative.  The piece was made to order and scaled to the wearer's size and build.  In most cases the buyer furnished the makings-silver, turquoise, old jewelry or whatever was needed.  From John Adair's book The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths:  "Sheep, goats, or calves are common forms of payment, and by this exchange many smiths (jewelry makers) have built up large flocks.  Lacking cash, the buyers often secure credit at the trading post some desired object for the smith.  Turquoise or silver may be given for the jewelry, or the buyer may render some service to the smith, such as working in his fields or herding his sheep"...

The Kingman Mine is in Arizona and was first mined by Indians before the Europeans came to America.  Because the matrix in this turquoise is naturally white, it is usually dyed black and in the early days they used shoe polish.  I think there was some attempt to dye the matrix in the stones in this bracelet, but over time it wore off and now what you see is primarily the natural white matrix.  $925

Rare Vintage Old Nevada Green Turquoise Variscite Cuff Bracelet 1970's

If you are tired of the typical blue turquoise that you see everywhere, then this is the bracelet for you.  From the 1970's, this authentic Native American made bracelet features a beautiful, almost heart-shaped, stone that is an old, rare turquoise/variscite.  It is from Nevada where most of the green turquoises come from, and may be from the famous Orvil Jack Mine. 

The bracelet is very well made with thick ribs of silver that form the cuff which are not at all easy to bend.  The stone has a great spider-webbed matrix that is a dark grey-brown. 

The setting is 1 1/2" by 1 1/2".  The total circumference of the bracelet is 6 1/2" including the opening.  The opening is 1 1/4". Inside from side to side is 2 3/8" or 60 mm.  There are no defects and it is unsigned.  The weight is 44.2 grams.  Adjusting this bracelet would be difficult as the silver is very thick.

Variscite is a relatively rare phosphate mineral. It is sometimes confused with turquoise, however variscite is usually greener in color.  It is considered a semi-precious stone, like turquoise, and appreciation for it has grown in recent years as people are now looking for green stones to add to their jewelry collections.   $229

Men's Unique Vintage Heavy Navajo Turquoise & Coral Bracelet  

This outstanding and very unique bracelet is circa 1970-80's.  The construction is very unusual as it is made with four silver hinges.  The turquoise and branch coral decorating it is high quality.  The bracelet weighs a phenomenal 194.9 grams.
 

The total circumference of the bracelet is  7 1/2".  The width of the bracelet on top is 2".  The silver Liberty medallion in the center is 39 mm and set in a silver bezel.  I do not know the history on this medallion.  The stamped signature inside bracelet is by Ray Jones, Jr. a Navajo.  Obviously there can be no adjustment made to the size of this bracelet.  $995

Stunning Vintage Old Pawn Kingman Turquoise Cuff Bracelet Navajo  

Circa 1960-70's, this bracelet features a superb large Kingman Mine turquoise cut in a huge stone 48 mm by 36 mm.  This is an exquisite stone, surrounded by the traditional Navajo motif of leaves and flowers. All these decorative pieces of silver have been individually cut and stamped by hand. 

This is not a commercial, "cookie-cutter" piece of jewelry, it is one of a kind and has a wonderful vintage look and feel to it.  The color of the stone is a gorgeous. The matrix is a beautiful amber color and resembles a golden storm cloud. 

The bracelet is 2 5/8" tall at the center and the setting is 2 1/4" wide.  Put a ruler on your arm and you will see just how big this bracelet is!  It weighs over 75 grams.

The total circumference of the bracelet is 6 1/2" (including the opening gap).  The opening is 1 1/4".  There are no chips or cracks in the stone. The inside is hand engraved with the word "tawn" or could be "pawn".  This may be the maker, or when an item is pawned, they would put the name of the owner inside.  $375

Wonderful Vintage Old Turquoise Cuff Bracelet 1940's Great Color Heavy Silver

From the 1940's, this is truly a beautiful authentic Native American made bracelet in excellent condition.  The stones are a wonderful mix of different natural turquoises that range in color from a lovely light blue with very little matrix to a forest green that has a black matrix like tiger stripes!  A bracelet of this age and distinction is for the serious collector, one who can appreciate its antiquity, construction and originality.  These museum-quality bracelets are increasingly hard to come by and every one is such a unique, one-of-a-kind item.

The center setting width of the bracelet is 1 1/2" with a hand-cut 36mm by 25 mm stone.  The total circumference of the bracelet is 6 5/8" including the opening.  The opening is 1 1/4". Inside from side to side is 2 1/2" or 62 mm.  There are no defects and it is unsigned.  The weight is 90.5 grams!  Adjusting this bracelet is totally not recommended.  The silver is very thick, which would make it hard to do, and it could compromise the security of the stones, which are solidly stable at this time.  $1100

1970's Distinctive Morenci Turquoise Cuff Bracelet Perfect Larger Wrist

This bracelet makes a great "statement", with its large cabochon of natural Morenci turquoise.  The stone showcases the wonderful bright blue color of Morenci and its characteristic and unusual matrix of iron pyrite, which looks metallic when polished as in this bracelet.  If you are a connoisseur of turquoise, then you know that having inclusions and matrix is what gives a stone its beauty and character.  It also distinguishes it from other types of turquoise. 

This bracelet is in perfect condition and could easily be adjusted to be slightly larger or smaller.  The setting is 2" by 1 1/2".  The stone is 38 mm by 20 mm.  The total circumference of the bracelet is 7 1/8" including the opening.  The opening is 1 5/8". Inside from side to side is 2 5/8" or 65 mm.  There are no defects and it is unsigned.  The weight is 46.3 grams.  If you had to replace a Morenci turquoise stone of this size and quality it would cost between $150-$300.

Morenci  turquoise comes from Arizona and is well known as it was one of the first types of American turquoise to find its way to the commercial jewelry market and now it is very difficult to obtain because the mine was depleted so long ago. Some experts say that the best Morenci ever produced was discovered in the late 1960's to early 70's, the time when this bracelet was made.  During this time period, the mine produced a high, electric blue variety with iron pyrite inclusions. Since Morenci is no longer being mined, and because of its striking color and unusual matrix combinations, high grade natural Morenci is a valuable, highly collectible mineral.

The flowing design surrounding the stone is absolutely wonderful.  It features graceful leaves and dots of silver that represent rain drops; both are distinctive Navajo design elements.  Because the Navajo reservation is in desert land, rain is very important to the people there for plant growth and survival .  $259

Five fabulous gem grade Morenci turquoise stones adorn this incredible bracelet made with the thickest silver I have ever seen in a bracelet. Circa 1940-50's, this is a real collector's item.  It weighs over 125 grams and is 1" wide.  These stones are worth hundreds of dollars.  Words fail at describing the beauty of this piece; the pictures tell it all!

The total circumference of the bracelet 7" including the opening.  The opening is almost 1 1/4". Inside dimension from side to side is 2 3/8" or 62 mm.  There are no defects, although you can see in one photo that one of the end stones has a small scratch on the surface.  It is signed with an s-shaped symbol (see photo) that I have not been able to link to a particular silversmith.  Due to the thickness of the silver it is not possible to adjust the size of this bracelet.  $2900

 Blue Gem Turquoise Cuff Bracelet 1970's Smaller Wrist Size

This is a great bracelet for those of us with small wrists.  Circa 1970's,  it has a nice large piece of natural turquoise that looks like it came from the Blue Gem Mine in Nevada.  The turquoise that comes from this mine is noted for the variety of blues and greens that often appear together in one stone.  This bracelet is a one of a kind. This is not a design that was mass produced; it was made by a real Native American artisan.

The width of the bracelet on top is 2".  The total circumference of the bracelet is 6" including the opening.  The opening is 1". Inside from side to side is about 2" or 52 mm.  It is not signed by the artist, but the letters "F F" are written in black marker on the inside which makes me believe this may have been a pawned item.  The weight is 44.8 grams.  A  small amount of very careful adjusting to the size of this bracelet might be possible.

The turquoise is 7/8" or 22 mm by 5/8" or 14 mm in size.  There is a natural surface crack in the stone that is part of  a normal inclusion and does not go through the stone, and this stone is very securely set.

The design elements are classic Navajo, representing leaf, tendril and rain drops.  These in turn represent the life-giving rain which the Navajo get extremely lttle of in their desert reservation.   This will make a very comfortable wearing bracelet. It is not lightweight, nor is it heavy; it is definitely sturdy.  It will not bend easily.  It's dainty on the sides, but a statement on top!  A wonderful unique vintage piece that anyone would be proud to wear.  $189

Elegant Sand Cast Cuff with Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Circa 1950's

This is a truly beautiful Navajo sand cast bracelet with three genuine turquoise cabochons.  It is in perfect condition and the design is unique, artistic and very classy.  The stones are the classic brilliant turquoise blue devoid of matrix that is characteristic of one of the most favored turquoise mines in the U.S. -  Sleeping Beauty - from Arizona. 

The width of the bracelet on top center is almost 1 1/4". The total circumference of the bracelet including the opening is 6 1/4"; gap is 1 1/4".  Inside dimension from side to side is 2 1/4" or 58 mm. It is unsigned, as is typical for items from that era, and it weighs a very sturdy 71.2 grams.  Adjusting the size of this one is not an option due to the thickness of the silver. $395

Fabulous Vintage Piece - In Hard to Find Smaller Wrist Size

Circa 1960-70's, Navajo sand cast bracelet with a unique shaped turquoise stone from the Kingman Mine in Arizona.  When I got this piece it had the thickest amount of silver tarnish on it that I have ever seen.  I used a gentle polishing cloth on it and it cleaned up to a brilliant shine with no harm to the original finish of the silver.

This is the perfect woman's bracelet as the design and size are made for a feminine wrist.  The total circumference of the bracelet is 6", including the opening. The opening is 1 1/8" and could possible be made a tad smaller or larger. Width of bracelet on top is 1 1/2".  There are no known defects and it is unsigned.  It weighs a nice 58 grams of solid sterling silver. $249

The silver work is quite detailed and the Stormy Mountain turquoise stone is exceptionally large.  Stormy Mountain turquoise is a dark blue turquoise that is suitably named for its distinctive blotchy black chert matrix that resembles storm clouds.  It is a very collectible American classic that you do not often see.  The mine is located in Elko County, Nevada.  Next to the turquoise is a piece of natural branch coral.
 

The total circumference of the bracelet, including the opening, is  6 1/4".  The opening is 1".  The width of the bracelet on top is 2 3/4".  The stone is 53 mm by 39 mm.  It is stamped inside "CHIEF".  There is another word under one of the silver ribs that cannot be made out.  A small amount of adjustment could be made to allow the bracelet to be larger.  $549

This is a delightful bracelet, circa 1950's.  It is a classic teardrop cluster bracelet.  The stones are old Kingman Mine turquoise that display the natural white matrix that is commonly found in this turquoise.  The stones are a lighter and more softer blue than you see nowadays because most Kingman is dyed a deep blue.  Because it is unsigned, I cannot tell whether it is Navajo or Zuni as they both made similar bracelets.

This bracelet is in excellent condition. None of the stones are cracked, and all are very stable, although it does look like a few have been replaced over the years. The width of the bracelet on top is 1 5/8".  The total circumference of the bracelet is 6 5/8" including the opening.  The opening is 1 1/8". Inside from side to side is about 2 3/8" or 61 mm.  There are no defects and it is unsigned.  The weight is 45.7 grams.  A  small amount of adjusting to the size of this bracelet might be possible.

The Kingman Mine is in Arizona and was first mined by Indians before the Europeans came to America.  Because the matrix in this turquoise is naturally white, it is usually dyed black and in the early days they used shoe polish.  I think there was some attempt to dye the matrix in the stones in this bracelet, but over time it wore off and now what you see is primarily the natural white.  The fact that the dye used was not permanent is a very good sign of its age.

This is the perfect lady's bracelet - not too big and not too small; not too heavy yet definitely sturdy. The silver is not lightweight.  A wonderful vintage piece that anyone would be proud to wear.  $459

Circa 1950's, this bracelet is well over 50 years old.  The design is exquisitely detailed.  This was a great artisan.  The turquoise is Morenci from Arizona and the mine has been depleted for many years. Several of the stones have age cracks which you can see if you super-size the photos.  This does not bother me because all of the stones are very secure and pose no threat of coming apart or falling out.  To me, this is a great indicator of the age of this bracelet.  Another sign of age is that some of the stones have turned green over time.

The width of the bracelet on top is 1 1/4".  The total circumference of the bracelet is 6 3/4" including the opening.  The opening is 1 1/2". Inside from side to side is about 2 3/8" or 61 mm.  It is not signed by the artist.  A  small amount of very careful adjusting to the size of this bracelet might be possible.

The turquoise stones are cut in shapes that the Zuni call "petit point", which is an oval stone ground to a point on one end, and "snake eye", which is a small round stone.

Many Zuni jewelry designs are often repeated over and over again by a single artist and may even be nearly duplicated by other artists.  This bracelet is an exceptionally unique piece and you will never see another like it.  If it fit my wrist, I would not be selling it!  Don't pass up this opportunity to own a truly beautiful, vintage, one of a kind bracelet!  $495