Crushed Turquoise Jewelry Appraisal

Sterling Silver Crushed Turquoise Inlay Heart Ring

This is a vintage or antique sterling silver ring featuring a heart-shaped bezel setting filled with crushed turquoise inlay. The ring band appears to be made of a silver-toned metal, likely sterling silver given its common usage in this type of jewelry, and exhibits a split shank design leading up to the heart motif. The silver components show noticeable tarnish, indicating age and lack of recent polishing, which suggests a natural patina development. The heart measures approximately 1 to 1.5 cm across at its widest point. The turquoise inlay consists of small, irregularly shaped pieces of turquoise in various shades of blue and green, set closely together to form a mosaic pattern within the heart shape. The surface of the inlay appears fairly smooth, suggesting it has been polished or coated, although some minor imperfections or slight unevenness might be present upon closer inspection. There are no visible maker's marks or hallmarks discernible in the provided images. The overall style suggests it could be Native American inspired or a piece of Southwestern jewelry, popular from the mid-20th century onwards. The craftsmanship appears to be good for a handmade/artisan piece, though not exceptionally fine jewelry. The condition is consistent with regular wear over time, exhibiting some surface scratches and the aforementioned tarnish, but no obvious signs of significant damage like missing inlay pieces or bent components. The ring possesses a charming, handcrafted aesthetic.