Older cuff with repurposed turquoise?

I really like this cuff, it’s one of those that feels so good on my wrist. I don’t believe the seller knew a lot about it, but it tests + for sterling and has what I believe is a repurposed drilled piece of turquoise. It’s made in the style of the early 1900’s and I believe the turquoise is Blue Gem.
I’d appreciate any thoughts or opinions from the group. Thanks!


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I really like it a lot. The only thing i might add is that i saw a video on early NA jewelry the other day where they said that a repurposed bead is usually a good indication of a piece being early.

(also, that ‘crack’ on the edge, could that be an indicator of coin silver?)

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Thanks @Bluegreen. Yeah, I thought about that; that’s why I tested it. It acid tested =/> 0.925. I’ve also read that repurposed turquoise usually indicated pre 1900, but to my eye, it doesn’t look that early. And I’m always cautious that it was made to deceive.

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What a beautiful cuff. To me it looks older (agree with @Bluegreen about the stone), but I really have no way of knowing. I know things can be made to look old, so hopefully people with more expert knowledge will weigh in. Whatever, it’s gorgeous!

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Thanks @Ziacat. I also thought it was a great early piece, but I’m not an expert. Too bad one needs to worry about deception.

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It’s really beautiful!

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Congratulations on a beautiful cuff.

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There is an Anglo silversmith named Steve Taylor who works in this style. Steve worked as my production manager in the late 80’s and taught this very traditional style to some of our younger crafts people. He’s up in Santa Fe and still active. Anyway Steve immediately came to mind when I saw this beauty.

I would characterize this piece as sincere homage by a highly skilled craftsman.

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Thanks @mmrogers. Somehow I just had the feeling it was a well done contemporary traditional style cuff. The addition of the drilled turquoise was interesting. It appears it to be pump drilled, certainly giving it some age. I’m also fairly sure the turquoise is blue gem, which wasn’t producing until the mid 1930 (from what I read), but produced enormous amounts of product. I’m sure the use of this drilled cab was specifically to give it that old early 1900’s feel…and it does!

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That is one very nice looking cuff! The turquoise does have that Blue Gem look. If it’s a more recent cuff made to pay homage to an earlier time the artist did an excellent job! :blue_heart:

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Throw a red coral cab in that hole? It looks early but how “early” can’t tell.

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Hi Billy, welcome and thanks for your thoughts. Ya know, I have some gorgeous scrap coral…it would look great. On the other hand, it would detract from the older style of the cuff. Right now I love it the way it is😄

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