Here are the heishi I purchased during our trip.
This double strand was sold as vintage Ray Lovato
These two came from the Frances Talbert estate. They came from a shop in Cortez and one in Mancos. They are vintage, maybe 70s?
The last one I purchased at the Taos visitors center. It is made by Dinée Mirabel. She is Taos Pueblo. I’m not quite sure of the dark “shell” material.
I am still searching for a graduated jet strand.
Please share your heishi strands and their history.
What a fun thread, @here4turquoise
@Stracci You have some really nice heishi. Now I need to find a coral and melon shell along with a jet.
Your MIL had quite a stash of great jewelry.
@here4turquoise Hi ~ Just a suggestion… for a graduated jet necklace, you should check out Navajo Cheyenne Grabiec’s jewelry. He has some beautiful jet necklaces. I’d imagine, you could also inquire about having a custom necklace made. (Mostly what you’ll see online are his tab jet necklaces but, I’ve seen non-tab ones. Four Winds Gallery has a bio on Grabiec.)
@Patina I just looked up him up, it’s exactly what I am looking to purchase. Thank you for the great lead.
@here4turquoise You’re very welcome! I’ve been looking at his jet necklaces for a while. They’re so beautiful.
Oooh…fun topic: you picked up some great pieces @here4turquoise! And @Stracci great pieces and very Creative display! You do well at flea markets and Goodwill!!! And great to have access to your MIL’s hoard😄
I’ll have some to cortribute when I get a chance!
We would love to see yours. Please post them when it’s convenient for you.
These are the only necklaces that I own with either full or partial heishi. All purchased in the '80s - early '90s. All are strung on string. I believe only the top 2 are possibly legit Santo Domingo/Kewa. The heishi are uniform and feel like satin if you run two fingers down the length. The turquoise & coral necklace, bottom right, isn’t heishi. I just really like it and wanted to share.
@Patina I enjoyed seeing your collection of heishi. Now we need to add a jet piece. 
Three of mine. The 10 strand and the smaller one are unknown artists’. The longer turquoise one is by Lupe Lovato.
The Lovato is a statement piece! The others are quite nice.
Your vintage double strand turquoise piece is killer @here4turquoise! It appears to have some age and IMO the turquoise appears hand cut. All of the Ray Lovato pieces with the wrapped neck I’ve seen have his hallmark turquoise tab attached in the wrap. Of course I have no idea when he started to use it. Ray’s father, Ike Lovato, also made hand rolled natural turquoise necklaces. Regardless…great buy!
Thank you @Bmpdvm I had a newer one in my pile to buy the the salesman said he had two vintage pieces by Ray Lovato. The vintage one I REALLY wanted was a three strand. It hung beautifully when I put it on. He thought it was $2000 but it was $12000. I just couldn’t swing it as I wanted to buy other items.
This necklace may have had the signature tab on the wrap. There are two loose strings toward the middle of the wrap.
In this pic I included my vintage greasy green ring.
That ones hangs beautifully! Looks even better on😄. That certainly could be where the tab came off…makes sense. And the prices are typical for Rays pieces? Great buy!!
Wow, it looks great on black!
Thank you @Bmpdvm and @Stracci I put on a fresh clean shirt and it still shows lint 
I had not heard of Ray Lovato until joining this forum. You all are great sources of information and so helpful to your fellow forum members.
Everybody’s are beautiful!! But $12,000… say what? Your two strand is plenty lovely.
I will appreciate his work from afar.
Thank you @Ziacat I guess it was extra special. 
Are you back in Indiana? I know you had an amazing trip but are most likely exhausted.
