I was hoping to find jewelry (that would fit in my budget) from a couple of my favorite artists, but thought that would be a difficult task. However, I was in luck! Gallup was the sweet spot.
I had fun looking for quite awhile, but soon realized I would do better focusing on a few artists as vs trying to see it all. I’ve been wanting a piece by Aaron Anderson, so I tried on a bunch of his cuffs, but they were too large. I had seen a sweet little cuff of his on their website; fortunately they still had it, and it fit perfectly.
I also wanted to find smaller cuffs that will stack, and this fit the bill perfectly. I’ve been wearing it with the Anthony Bowman cuff I purchased in ABQ, and with this one from Twin Rocks Trading Post.
My other purchase is the one I am most excited about. I wanted to visit Richardson’s just because it’s a fun store, but didn’t expect to shop there. However…I found a Tommy Jackson ring that fit my finger and my budget! They had a bunch of his work, but this was the only ring that was my size. The gentleman helping me didn’t know what mine the stone is from. The silver work on the ring is very heavy.
Anybody have any thoughts on the stone? The matrix is unusual - kinda has a dendritic look (I’m just using that descriptively). A Navajo gal working in the jewelry section at Cameron Trading Post noticed the ring immediately, and wanted to see it up close. She pulled out a Turquoise mine guide, and guessed Lone Mountain. But who knows!
@Ziacat Congratulations on your new N.A. wearable art! The Aaron Anderson with the coral is definitely a keeper. The Tommy Jackson ring is phenomenal! I don’t have a guess on the cab but would have bought it whether it fit or not!
Two wonderful places to shop! So glad you hit your jackpot We were in Gallup right after the bad flooding. Richardson’s was ok, but a building behind had been hit by lightning…I heard they got some rugs and other things out, but fire + fire trucks resulted in a lot of damage.
Thanks ladies! @here4turquoise, I’m certainly not bothered on not knowing what type turquoise it is; he was known for using good stones. But it did need to fit me
@tepowell oh my goodness, I know they’ve been having torrential rains but I didn’t know about the fire.
Thanks! I want to stack them more. I have some that I can do it with, but many just don’t work because of the width or the shape. This one is perfect for that.
Goodness. My ring was nothing like that But yeah, I didn’t even try on the cuffs. He passed away fairly recently so I suspect the prices for his work will continue to go up. The store owner, Steve Simpson, at Twin Rocks talked about how Mr. Jackson would come flying in on his motorcycle, and that he was a real character (in a good way). Mr Simpson also said that he had really cared about the Navajo kids, and worked with them often. He had been a grade school teacher on the rez for years.
Congratulations on your lovely finds, @Ziacat! The AA cuff is a knockout. It looks heavy and robust, and I can see it being an exceptional stacker. I love its apparent thickness and dark recesses.
The stone in your Tommy Jackson ring is incredible. It looks awfully dark and deep, and is complimented nicely by the equally deep and patinated stamp work. The bezel holding it in place is just gorgeous. So happy these beauties found their most appropriate home with you!!
@ziacat I love (LOVE) Tommy Jackson’s work. Particularly his rings. Your pick-up is five-alarm, just an incredible piece—the perfect thing for an index finger (which is such a wonderfully bold look) and you wear it beautifully.
Editing to add (re: stone): This is an older pic I’ve shared here before of a trio of Tommy Jackson rings. I’ve always wondered about the stone in the left-most ring. Someone with some turquoise knowledge recently asked me if it was Lone Mountain, so perhaps there is some anecdotal curiosity here, given that they’re both by the same maker and similar material. But as always, yeah—who knows!
Thanks so much! The cuff even though smallish is hefty. Something about the design totally appealed to me. There was another with turquoise stones, same design, but I liked the coral best.
Richardson’s had quite a few of his rings, and most of them did not fit me (was looking for one for my index finger), and were pricier. This one was one of my favorites anyway, so I was very fortunate. That stone mesmerized me.
Thank you! I remember your fabulous TJ rings. I was loving his work, but your rings made me even more of a fan; I’m so excited to finally have one! That middle one of yours was one I had looked at on Garland’s site awhile ago. You can take partial credit for my purchase
Your ring on the left does definitely look like some Lone Mountain turquoise I’ve seen. When the Navajo gal and I looked it up, it appears Lone Mountain turquoise is one that can have the dendritic looking matrix (like in my stone) so that’s what made us wonder if mine was that.
Richardson’s had one of his that was a two stone ring with Bisbee, but it was way too big for me. There was another at Perry Null that I had seen online, but when I got there it was such a giant square that I knew it wouldn’t look good on me, plus the stone was much smaller.
I found a really interesting YouTube video where he’s being interviewed about Native made jewelry, so I’ll link it later on.
@Ziacat I’ve got to get to Gallup, NM! Congrats on all the superior NA jewelry that you purchased. The craftsmanship is outstanding on all 3 pieces. They all look awesome on you. It’s always extra special to find jewelry that we love & enjoy wearing.
Thanks! It really helps me to have some sort of plan or idea when I shop otherwise I get overwhelmed and either spend too much or buy things that I regret.
You definitely should go! And the drive in from either direction on I-40 is beautiful. It’s probably been 20 years or more since I had shopped there, but even back then I found one of my all time favorite cuffs. There are lots more shops to go to than the two we did, but the more I shop the more I’m tempted to spend, so I kept it to the minimum.
We were also short on time, because we were trying to get to El Morro in time to hike (the trails closed rather early there), stop at another park, and get to ABQ for dinner. I guess that saved me money!
We haven’t been to El Morro in years, went to El Malpais last year, so cool. Heading north this trip, we stopped overnight in Mesa Verde, and went to Great Sand Dunes and Capulin on our way back out of Pagosa. It is so hard to make priorities of what to squeeze in, there’s too much! Old things to revisit, and new ones to explore
Yes, we love Mesa Verde, but I’ve only been to Great Sand Dunes once - I’d like to go back. Never been to Capulin, maybe someday! And it is hard to squeeze everything in. We did 6 national parks (granted Sunset and Wupatki are more like one) in 9 days plus everything else.
I really really want to back to Navajo National Monument; thinking about it for next year.
Wow, beautiful finds! That ring is an absolute knock out! I see you couldn’t resist more bracelets. I most likely could not have resisted that beautiful Aaron Anderson stacker either! Congrats on your new babies!
We were in Gallup right after the bad flooding. Richardson’s was ok, but a building behind had been hit by lightning…I heard they got some rugs and other things out, but fire + fire trucks resulted in a lot of damage.
But yeah, I didn’t even try on the cuffs. He passed away fairly recently so I suspect the prices for his work will continue to go up. The store owner, Steve Simpson, at Twin Rocks talked about how Mr. Jackson would come flying in on his motorcycle, and that he was a real character (in a good way). Mr Simpson also said that he had really cared about the Navajo kids, and worked with them often. He had been a grade school teacher on the rez for years.
The bezel holding it in place is just gorgeous. So happy these beauties found their most appropriate home with you!! 
I most likely could not have resisted that beautiful Aaron Anderson stacker either! Congrats on your new babies!