Vintage Navajo Style Sterling Silver Prehnite Cuff, Artisan Crafted

This is a brilliant cuff artisan crafted sometime in the 1990s. The design is beautifully Navajo with a sand-cast base and an austere frame which emphasizes an extraordinary rich green stone. The cuff however was not made by a Native American artisan but rather a talented mystery silversmith who crafted pieces for the southwestern tourist trade.

The cuff composed of sterling silver and an unusual stone. It is called Prehnite. It is a magnificent mix of dark green hues with hints of black. The black inclusions are actually tiny tourmaline crystals which frequently occur within Prehnite. The rich color captures attention, symbolic of an old growth forest, an antediluvian grove, and a rich tropical jungle. Earthy and warm, the color evokes the spirit of nature.

This unique stone has been cut into a rather large cabochon typical of vintage Southwestern pieces. It has been framed in a more contemporary Navajo style. This type of setting was traditionally employed to highlight the natural aspects of the cabochon, in this case the rich green color and organic inclusions. A wide sand cast cuff with beautifully detailed arms completes the look.
Sand cast elements set with large cabochons were a key theme in early Navajo jewelry design, this cuff while crafted at a much later date exemplifies vintage Navajo design aesthetic.

This cuff is an exquisite example of Southwestern style. Today, native jewelry looks have seen a resurgence in popularity. Worn by important style influencers, ageless rock stars and the fashion forward, southwestern cuffs like this one are paired with everything from flowing linen midi dresses to casual western wear.

The Specifics:
Face of Cuff: 1.90"
Interior Measurement: 5"
Gap: 1.10"
Note: There is no adjustability, it will fit wrists 6 inches or smaller
Condition: Excellent Vintage-Please expand photos as they are part of the description.
Construction: Artisan Crafted
Composition: Prehnite, Sterling Silver
Age/Origins: 1990/Prehnite has been mined South Africa, France, the USA, India, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Spain. The origins of this cuff are quite the mystery, if you have any information on who made this bracelet please shoot me a quick email, love to know.
Hallmarks: Sterling Silver (925)
Makers mark: I-ER

About Prehnite:
Initially named “Chrysolite of the Cape” by Balthazar Georges Sage in 1771, it was renamed in 1813 by Abraham Gottlob Werner in tribute to Hendrik Von Prehn (1733-1785) who would have originally discovered it. Prehnite can be found in forest green to pale yellow and can be also semi transparent or translucent. It has been often mistaken for Jade within jewelry design.

History of Tufa Cast Jewelry:
In the 1920's through 30's, the Navajo people created beautiful sand cast silver from the Mexican silver coins of that time. They sold their work to the tourists who were taking "The Western Tour" at train stations and trading posts. During that period, sand cast silver was worn by the Navajos without stones...they only used stones for the tourist trade.
American coins were the primary source of Silver for Jewelry until 1890, after which defacing a U.S. coin was outlawed. Mexican pesos were substituted until 1930 when their export to the American Southwest was forbidden. Sterling Silver ingots with a slightly purer Silver content replaced the coins. In the 1930s, sterling Silver in convenient sheets and wire forms became increasingly available from Native Traders. Today, the majority of Native American jewelry is still made using Sterling Silver sheet and wire.

Please review the photos carefully and email with any questions you may have prior to making a purchase.

Enjoy 🌞