Vintage Southwestern Navette Turquoise and Silver Ring

This is a vintage Southwestern-style statement ring featuring a long, navette-shaped (marquise or almond-shaped) turquoise stone. The stone is a vibrant sky-blue hue with a distinct dark brown and black spiderweb matrix running diagonally across its surface, suggesting it may be sourced from a mine like Royston or Kingman. The turquoise is set within a smooth bezel, which is then surrounded by an ornate, oxidized silver frame. This frame features scrollwork, open filigree details, and small ball accents (granulation) that give it a substantial, handcrafted appearance typical of mid-20th-century Native American or Southwestern artisan jewelry. The silver exhibits a heavy dark patina, particularly in the recessed areas of the filigree, emphasizing the depth of the metalwork. The item shows signs of age-appropriate wear, including minor surface scratches on the stone and tarnishing on the metal. The overall construction indicates a piece from approximately the 1960s or 1970s, characterized by the 'Fred Harvey era' or boho-revival aesthetic. While no hallmark is visible in the photograph, the quality of the stone setting and the weight of the silver frame suggest a skilled maker.

I have carefully examined the visual characteristics of this vintage Southwestern navette turquoise and silver statement ring. The stone exhibits the classic sky-blue coloration and dense spiderweb matrix often associated with high-grade material from the Kingman or Royston mines. The navette cut is particularly desirable for collectors of mid-century Southwestern jewelry, providing a dramatic vertical profile. The ornate silverwork, featuring scrollwork and granulation, shows a natural aged patina that highlights the depth of the craftsmanship. The construction is consistent with the 'Boho-revival' or 'Fred Harvey Era' style of the 1960s and 70s. The market for vintage Native American and Southwestern artisan jewelry remains robust, with high demand for authentic, unenhanced turquoise set in heavy gauge silver. Comparables for unsigned pieces of this size and quality typically trade in the mid-hundreds range. The substantial weight of the setting and the lack of visible stabilization in the stone (observed via surface texture) contribute favorably to the value. However, the absence of a maker's mark prevents it from reaching the premium prices commanded by known masters like Kenneth Begay or Victor Moses Begay. Limitations: This appraisal is based solely on high-resolution imagery. Without a physical inspection, I cannot verify the silver's purity via an acid or XRF test, nor can I definitively confirm if the stone has been chemically treated or stabilized. Full authentication would require an in-person examination to check for hallmarks on the inner shank and a gemological test to confirm the origin and natural state of the turquoise. Provenance documentation or a signed hallmark would significantly increase the upper-bound valuation.