A clean and bold turquoise and sterling silver ring. The mount to this ring is engraved with deep almost 'sunburst' style design that seems to emanate from the front of the ring when looking at it face on. This spectacular, hand cut and set, piece of American mined turquoise, most likely from the Pilot Mountain in Esmeralda County, Nevada. An important and very desirable variation of turquoise. Pilot Mountain turquoise ranges in color from blue to green with a dark brown, black or red matrix. Additionally, people admire this stone for its deep blue-green colors. This stunning and large piece is no exception. Some people like to see these formed lines through the stone, where as others enjoy the crisp and clean beautiful blue of the stunning stone. The style of this ring is possibly that of the Navajo Native American tribe, and was likely made by a jeweler from this tribe. The Navajo tribe, now located in occupying portions of northeastern Arizona, southeastern Utah, and northwestern New Mexico, was the first Native American group to learn Mexican silversmithing techniques. Navajo artist Atsidi Chon then taught the art to a member of the Zuni tribe. For the Native American culture, Turquoise signified water and sky, for bountiful harvests, health and protection turquoise and was also used to visually showcase their individuality, rank and history. The ring is marked both "sterling" and signed with the makers mark “R” stamped into the inside of the shank. The maker has not been identified as it could relate to a number of Navajo artists that stamped their work with a single R. The ring dates to the 1990’s and is superb condition overall. The ring is a size 12.5, but can be sized to any required size, within reason, via the back of the shank.
