Southwestern-style turquoise and silver-tone cross necklace

This jewelry piece consists of a silver-toned Omega or snake-style chain paired with a cross-shaped pendant featuring an inlaid stone. The pendant is stylized as an equal-arm cross, commonly referred to as a Greek cross, holding a stone that appears consistent with turquoise. The stone exhibit a vibrant robin's egg blue hue with brown and reddish-orange matrix veins branching across the surface, which is characteristic of various Southwestern or Mexican turquoise varieties. The pendant is held by a wide, polished bail that slides over the dense, flat metallic chain. The chain is secured with a lobster-claw style clasp and a small end-tag that is indistinct in the photograph. Stylistically, the piece is consistent with late 20th-century Southwestern jewelry, though it lacks clear hallmarks in the image to determine if it is sterling silver or a base metal. No specific maker's mark is legible, so attribution to a particular jeweler remains a hypothesis. The condition appears fair, showing some light surface scratches on the metal and some darkening consistent with minor oxidation or patina. In-person testing would be required to verify the metal's purity and the stone's mineral identity.

I have examined the image provided of this Southwestern-style turquoise and silver-tone necklace. Based on what I can see, the piece features a turquoise-like stone with matrix patterns consistent with Southwestern varieties; however, I cannot verify from a photo if the stone is natural, stabilized, or a synthetic composite. The metallic components resemble silver, but without a clear '925' hallmark or acid testing, I must treat the material as potentially a base metal or silver-plate for the purpose of this hypothesis. The value is based on the assumption that this is a late 20th-century artisan piece. If the metal is confirmed as sterling silver, the value likely occupies the higher end of the $45 - $125 range. Conversely, if it is a mass-produced reproduction or silver-toned base metal, the retail value would typically drop below $20. Market demand for Southwestern jewelry remains steady, though prices for unattributed pieces are generally dictated by material purity and stone quality. To provide a more precise valuation, an in-person physical inspection is required to confirm the metal's fineness and the mineral identity of the inlay. Verification of the end-tag markings and scientific testing for stabilization would also be necessary to move beyond this working hypothesis. Without a confirmed maker's mark or provenance documentation, the piece is valued as a decorative accessory in the style of Southwestern tradition.