From the cut, color and matrix, this looks like Persian turquoise to me.
Wow! I’m shocked. I was given this piece along with A LOT more. From squash blossom necklace to Vintage African trading beads, opal jewelry, red coral jewelry, and stuff I have no idea if it is worth keeping. It’s not just jewelry. It’s cultural statues, art. It’s from southwestern North America, Africa, Japan, Italy, and more. I don’t know what to do with it all so I figured I would start searching to see what stuff is worth keeping and oddly enough it all seems worth a lot of money. Where would you suggest I could get someone to look at the whole lot of it to help me know what to do with it cuz I have no clue. Any information that you could share with me I’d appreciate it if you don’t know anything that’s perfectly fine. I just have to start somewhere because it’s a lot of stuff and it’s all vintage and it meant a lot to her.
Getting someone knowledgeable in each cultures’ categories that she has would be one way. I just wondering if there’s someone that is possibly knowledgeable in all of them or at least an overview of all of them.
Any area auction house would be a place to start. You can make an appointment to bring it in or to have someone come out (depending on their practices). If they or other sites will ask for photos in advance, take decent photos and be prepared to answer if they ask how you acquired your material.
This is not an appraisal website, just discussion really. Good luck in your research.
Thank you very much. There is not an auction house even remotely close to where I live but I did see something about someone coming out to the house to look at the items as you said. I just got mixed emotions about an auction house because I hear that they take a lot of money. It may seem odd but I’m also concerned about who’s getting the items. I do want to be compensating for a fair value but I also wanted to go to someone that’s going to appreciate them as much as she did. I might not have the control over that though. I’ll think on it a while and I will definitely be posting on here my findings and what I do with it. Thank you again
One of the thing I forgot to mention is that I live in Florida and these types of collections / jewelry are of no interest to anyone here. Example: I took a squash blossom necklace to a pawn shop to just see how much or get an idea if I went that route. The guy told me he wouldn’t give me $5 for three necklaces that I have. I have sent sold those three necklaces for combined value of almost $5,000. So what I say they’re not interested in turquoise or native American vintage jewelry here I mean they really don’t care about it LOL it’s very strange. Oddly enough the people that bought the necklaces were all from South Western North America.
I disagree that there’s nobody in Florida that would have any interest in or knowledge of Native American jewelry…although perhaps not as popular there as in the Southwest where it originated, there are collectors everywhere. But not surprising that it was Southwestern people who had the most interest! They’re bringing the good stuff home.
However, a pawn shop, with very little exception, would be one of the last places to find an expert or anyone who would give you a fair price; they’re in the business of offering desperate people as little as possible for anything they would have to sell…surely that man knows what the scrap value for the materials alone would be even if he has no knowledge of its true value.
Many appraisers may work by email and photos; try the link Steve provided. You may also check around at a university or museum; someone likely has a Native American studies department or knows who may.
Ok, I stand corrected. I should have said very little but no retail places you can go in. Places like coin n bullion.
You can pay them for a valuation and they will for the stones only. No knowledge of it’s background and origin which, to me, is the real value in the Navajo vintage jewelry.
I’m glad I have found me one here now, you!
Thank you so much for the input and the information about a college or museum.
Thanks Turquoise People. Because of this site I have opinions, referrals, people’s personal feelings, and much more than I had before I came here. I’m a sober right now lol
I’m not sure if this would be the correct way to do this but here goes anyway. I was rereading some posts of mine due to a reply and I just saw this hilarious typo/messago/posto lol. My last sentence that said, " I am a sober right now". WRONG - one word changes everything.
“I am a sponge right now”.
Hopefully that completes my paragraph better for you guys. TOO FUNNY
I love the gold inlay cuffs from supersmith’s on this site I have a pair of their inlay Huggies in sterling. They are one of my go to faves
I have to reread everything I type; autocorrect does some crazy stuff!