Richard Tsosie Eagle Chief Belt Buckle

Description

Richard Tsosie Eagle Chief Belt Buckle

Silver Overlay Brave, Eagle, and Flag with silver Granulation

The natural, High Grade Gemstones featured are Fossil Ivory, Red Mountain Turquoise, Lapis and Malachite.

The Belt Buckle measures 3" x 2 1/4"

This Belt Buckle is for a 1 1/2" belt or smaller

Turquoise is believed to have healing properties, bring good fortune, carry wisdom, strength and help overcome illness.

Turquoise is opaque and is a mineral composed of copper and aluminum.  It's color varies from blue to green.  

The best turquoise has skyrocketed in price in recent years. The earth's supply of fine, gem turquoise is disappearing at an astounding rate and soon will be an extinct.  

This has opened the floodgates for the introduction of Synthetic / Treated / Manufactured Turquoise used in jewelry. 

There is a substantial difference in price, feel and appearance between Natural Gem Turquoise and synthetic imitations.

There is simply not a sufficient supply of natural Gem Turquoise to fill the jewelry demand.

Almost all turquoise today is bonded or stabilized (filled with resin or water glass) to give the turquoise a deeper and more intense color (wetting effect) that it naturally has.  Bonded or stabilized turquoise is rejected by many people because it does not have the beauty and brilliance of natural gemstones.

Stabilized turquoise often appears much like a blue plastic toy. 

Sedona Indian Jewelry seeks out high grade "gem" quality turquoise mounted in beautiful silver and gold by award winning artists.  

The value of turquoise is determined mostly by its hardness and richness of color. While Color is mainly a matter of individual taste, the most desirable turquoise is a strong sky blue to "robin's egg" blue.

Whatever the color, the turquoise itself should Not be soft, or chalky.  Such lesser material (which most turquoise is) serves no purpose in jewelry as it will fade and lose color over time.

The Matrix as often seen in turquoise is a network or veins running through the stone.  
Matrix in a stone can add value to turquoise... if it adds to the gem's beauty. This is rarely the case. 
Matrix is often called "spider web" turquoise and is highly valued in the Southwest United States as well as Japan and the Far East.  

I search out fine turquoise with and without a matrix.

In finished jewelry, Quality, Artist and Rarity are the major considerations when determining price.
This is a moving target and unless you are familiar with turquoise and this art form... the help of an expert, like Sedona Indian Jewelry, is essential.

We guarantee that what we sell is what we say it is.     

Sedona Indian Jewelry represents over 75 Master Southwest American jewelers and silversmiths with decades of experience.

We buy and sell their finest work.