Journal
Unfortunately, stones can fall out of vintage Native American jewelry pieces. If a stone feels loose in a setting or comes out entirely, this doesn’t mean the piece is broken or defective. In fact, a loose stone is a common sign that the backing under the stone has swelled or broken down. The crafting techniques used by authentic Native artists […]
Continue reading
Did you know that the tarnish on your old vintage Native American jewelry is actually very valuable? Metal jewelry develops a sheen called patina as it ages. Patina is caused by the oxidation of the metal when exposed to the air. So before you go cleaning your vintage jewelry, know that this darkened discoloration is […]
Continue reading
What is Hardness? Hardness is not only the condition of being a hard solid but in mineralogy it is a measurement of scratch resistance. In other words how resistant a solid’s surface to being scratched relative to another solid. A hard mineral can scratch the surface of a softer mineral. A soft mineral is unable to […]
Continue reading
Jewelry has adorned us further back than recorded history. Over the years it has been a way of announcing status, commitment and familial bonds. A beautiful ring, necklace, bracelet or other item is a surefire hit as a gift. But why wait for that piece you desire to come your way from someone else? Today […]
Continue reading
As you may know turquoise stones are like snowflakes, no two are the same. When turquoise is pulled from the earth it has a unique fingerprint. This is caused by unique elements that affect the stone during formation, such as host rock composition, elevation, pressure and temperature. This causes the stones to display variations of […]
Continue reading
