Richard Long Sr Navajo Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Cuff Bracelet Appraisal

Richard Long Sr. Navajo Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Cuff Bracelet

This is a significant sterling silver cuff bracelet handcrafted by the renowned Navajo silversmith Richard Long Sr. The piece features a double-row cluster of approximately eleven oval and teardrop-shaped turquoise cabochons, likely sourced from the Sleeping Beauty mine given their vibrant robin's egg blue hue. The stones are set in individual sawtooth bezels, a hallmark of traditional Diné craftsmanship, and are accented by small applied silver raindrops (beads) tucked between the stones to add texture and visual depth. The silver shows a deep natural oxidation or patina, particularly in the recessed areas, which provides a striking contrast against the bright blue of the stones. The bracelet is constructed on a heavy-gauge silver shank, indicating high quality and durability. While the interior hallmark is not visible in this angle, the style and stone arrangement are consistent with Long's mid-to-late 20th-century body of work. The condition appears excellent with no visible cracks to the stones, though there is general surface wear and tarnish on the metal commensurate with age and light use.