Turquoise Bracelets

Art Bracelets from Navajo Silversmiths

Mark Chee

I've had this magnificent Mark Chee, Smokey Bisbee Turquoise Bracelet for
 about 15 years. I bought it from an old trading post / stage coach stop
in Camp Verde... they opened for business in the late 1800's

In early 2008, Lyndon Tsosie sold this small uncut Lander Blue
Nugget sold for $38,000. The Bisbee featured in the  bracelet below is as rare, if not
rarer, then the Lander Blue. Further, and perhaps most important, is the problem uncut
stones always present jewelers, "what's below the surface... should I cut the stone"?

Having the gemstone already cut eliminates the mystery, for better or worse, the
answers are revealed. It is rare occasion indeed when we are rewarded with a
gemstone like this. 

Mark Chee, Navajo, is probably the oldest silversmith in the Barton Wright book.
Chee was born in Arizona around 1900. His jewelry is vey collectible. Occasionally
 pieces surface but never anything like this.

This Smokey Bisbee started out about the size of the palm of your hand. The stone
cutter probably was Mark Chee. He must have obsessed on the beauty of the
turquoise and what might below the surface.

Chee sliced the stone into 3 sections... the risk was well rewarded... the result was
a turquoise collectors' phenomenon. The Bisbee was probably mined in the 1930's or 1940's.

In my 40 years of searching for fine turquoise, I have never seen better, or larger, Bisbee
 turquoise. In Bisbee, as in many other mining operations, cooper was blasted from the earth.
Usually, turquoise was cracked and fractured in the process. That is why large pieces
of turquoise are rarely seen.

The 3 matching Bisbee stones measure:

 2 3/8" x 1 3/8" wide
 2" x 1 1/4" wide
1 3/8" x 1" wide

The Bracelet is 3 1/2" wide

For a 6 3/4" wrist

$35,000

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Large Matching Fox Turquoise Silver Bracelet

The smaller Fox Turquoise measures
1 3/4" x 1"

The larger, matching Fox Turquoise measures
2 1/2" x 1 3/8"

For a about a 6 1/4" wrist

If you want incredible turquoise you found it.
 You are buying the turquoise, the bracelet is free - wear it as it is
or re-set the turquoise when the mood strikes you.

Turquoise like this is no longer available.

Notice the deep blue color... it is very hard too. The dense molecular structure
 is what gives the turquoise it's incredible brilliance. The is also texture here,
 texture from the copper beautifully sprinkled on the face of the
turquoise as well as its highly polished undulating surface.

A rare gem divided in two

$3450

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See the entire Sedona
Indian Jewelry Bracelet Collection

Contemporary Kenneth Begay

Main Gallery... Entrance

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