Sterling Silver Native American Turquoise Ring RE01

This Turquoise ring is solid sterling silver and set with genuine Turquoise. This Turquoise ring measures 7/8" by 3/4" across the top. This Turquoise ring is Native American crafted by Navajo artist Priscilla Smith.

Turquoise jewelry has a long history dating back thousands of years. The name turquoise probably came from the French word pierre tourques meaning Turkish stone as turquoise was traded to Europe from Persia through present day Turkey. Another possibility is that the name came from the French description of the gemstone pierre turquin meaning dark blue stone. Today, the United States is the largest producer of turquoise especially in Arizona and Nevada.

The use of turquoise by Native Americans began about 1000 years ago when turquoise was found in Mount Chalchihuitl in present day New Mexico. While turquoise was used for centuries by the ancient Pueblo peoples, the silver-and-turquoise jewelry style known today was developed by Navajo artists in the late 1800’s. Pueblo and Navajo artists continue to use turquoise in traditional and modern turquoise jewelry.