Looking Back on the History of T.Skies Jewelry

Looking Back on the History of T.Skies Jewelry

We're celebrating our birthday and can't help but reminisce on our journey. Join us as we take it back to where it all started... with a blog!

Our founder Mathew James grew up in Aztec New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation's edge. He first got a feel for jewelry by learning from traditional silversmiths and began designing jewelry in 2007. Mathew is of Spanish, Caucasian, and Indigenous descent, and his work is highly influenced by the blended culture of the Southwest. He developed a love for turquoise and the passion led to a blog called T.Skies originally created to educate consumers about turquoise stones in 2010.

Mathew James, Founder of T.Skies Jewelry
After many interviews with local artists, T.Skies opened a physical space where local craftsmen and women could continue learning and practicing their cultural art forms. At first, T.Skies sold one-of-a-kind handmade pieces and created a safe place for jewelers to make and sell their wearable art.
Mathew started designing jewelry and soon he wanted to make his own. “I had to learn how to make jewelry so that I learned how the process worked. That made me a better designer,” he says.
Over time, T.Skies created signature collections, giving jewelers consistent income while they worked on their own pieces.
Ricardo Stringing Desert Pearls
T.Skies didn’t stay small for too long. Spanish, Mexican, and Indigenous cultures are part of our family of artists, making a rich style for our jewelry and a beautiful community around the T.Skies workshop.
Today, you can find one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces from our local jewelry artists on our Live Shows, or explore our handcrafted Signature Collections, which are inspired by the blended cultures of the Southwest.