Exquisitely crafted in the USA, this piece infuses contemporary design with tribal charm, promising to be a head-turning addition to your jewelry collection. Genuine turquoise chips, in their organic blue-green hues, cascade in three layers to form the centerpiece of this statement piece. Interspersed among the turquoise chips are gleaming sterling silver beads and distinctive silver barrels, lending a refined touch to the overall rustic appeal.
- Antique-inspired bead necklace
- Genuine Kingman turquoise tumbled stones
- Sterling silver beads and findings
- Embellished with coral beads
- The necklace is about 24-25 inches
- Bar and ring toggle clasp
- Beads come in a variety of shapes and sizes
- A small batch design, each necklace is unique
- Handmade in the USA
design: Three graduated strands of tumbled Kingman turquoise chips fall from hand-stamped sterling silver cone caps and rondelles, with dark accent beads and silver rounds framing the neck and a bar-and-ring toggle clasp at the back.
size: Approximately 24-25 inches in length; bead size and shape vary strand to strand.
material: Genuine Kingman turquoise chips, sterling silver beads and findings, coral accent beads, sterling silver toggle clasp.
features: Triple-strand design, genuine Kingman turquoise chips, hand-stamped sterling silver bead caps, coral accent beads, bar-and-ring toggle clasp, small-batch handmade construction
care: Wipe the silver elements with a soft polishing cloth and keep the turquoise away from water, lotion, and perfume to preserve its color and shine.
disclaimer: Because the turquoise chips are hand-sorted and hand-strung in small batches, bead size, shape, and hue vary naturally from piece to piece, so your necklace will be one of a kind.
The Story
Turquoise has been mined and worn in the American Southwest for centuries, and the Kingman mine in Arizona, source of the stone used here, is one of the region's best-known deposits, prized for its clear blue-green color and fine matrix veining. The pairing of turquoise with sterling silver became the signature material combination of Southwest jewelry beginning in the mid-1800s, when Native silversmiths in the region began working silver into beads, findings, and settings for locally sourced turquoise.
This necklace draws on that graduated, multi-strand beading style: rough chips are strung close together so the stone itself, in all its varied blues and greens, becomes the design, while stamped silver cone caps gather and finish each strand at the neck. The stamped geometric patterns on the silver findings echo the tool-stamped work long associated with Southwest silversmithing.
It's a style still made today much as it has always been: hand-selected stone, hand-strung beads, and hand-finished silver, rather than a look reproduced by machine.
Each necklace starts with loose turquoise rough that is tumbled and sorted by color and size before being hand-drilled and strung, bead by bead, onto three strands cut to slightly different lengths so they cascade rather than sit flat. The silver cone caps, rondelles, and clasp are cut, stamped by hand with traditional tool work, and shaped before the strands are gathered and knotted into them, then finished with a bar-and-ring toggle. Because the chips are irregular and hand-sorted rather than machine-cut, no two necklaces come out quite the same.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: United States (Southwest)
- Craft Tradition: Southwest turquoise-and-silver beadwork
- Ideal For: Someone who wants a bold, wearable statement piece with real turquoise and silver craftsmanship
- Wear It With: Let it anchor a simple crewneck, chambray shirt, or white tee so the turquoise and silverwork stay the focus.
- Purpose: Everyday statement wear, layering with other necklaces, special occasions, gifting
- Gemstone: Turquoise, Coral
- Metal: Sterling silver
Turquoise is one of the oldest stones used in personal adornment, long associated in the American Southwest with sky and water and worn as both jewelry and trade currency between Native nations and Spanish and Mexican traders for generations. Its color and matrix pattern come from copper and iron in the surrounding rock, which is why every stone, and every mine, reads a little differently. The coral beads add a small point of warm contrast against the strands of blue-green stone and silver.
Questions & Answers
How long is this necklace?
It measures approximately 24-25 inches, sitting as a statement length at or just below the collarbone.
Is the turquoise real?
Yes. It's genuine Kingman turquoise, tumbled into chips and hand-strung, sourced from the well-known Kingman mine in Arizona.
Will my necklace look exactly like the photo?
Close, but not identical. Because the chips are hand-sorted and hand-strung in small batches, bead color, size, and shape vary naturally from piece to piece.
What is the clasp?
A sterling silver bar-and-ring toggle clasp, easy to fasten and consistent with the piece's handcrafted silverwork.
How should I store and clean it?
Store it flat or hanging so the strands don't tangle, keep it away from water, lotion, and perfume, and polish the silver elements occasionally with a soft cloth.