Hello turquoise people! I’m curious about these turquoise pieces I’ve had since 1974. I bought the turquoise and coral bracelet in St. Louis, MO for myself when I was waitressing as a teenager and could barely pay my rent. Priorities, you know? My mother bought the squash blossom necklace, ring, earring set in Lupton, AZ (population: 5 as of 2022) while we were driving cross country. The signature is P Chee and when I search for that online I see many beautiful pieces. What can you tell me about my bracelet and my squash blossom set? Thank You
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Welcome to Turquoise People! What beautiful pieces of jewelry, and it’s always so special to have memories along with them. This may be your artist (of the squash)…
Couldn’t find a lot with a quick check online, but did find this.
Am I correct that the cuff doesn’t have a hallmark? It looks like a nice sand or tufa cast piece. I don’t really have a guess on the turquoise, but it’s beautiful. I’m more of a cuff person myself, and I love yours!
I’ve stopped in Lupton which is right by the AZ/NM border, and driven by numerous times on trips. I feel like I remember a whole bunch of big plaster animals such as elk up on the rocks at the Fort Yellowhorse trading post 
And once many, many years ago we stopped at a gas station in the little tiny town just west of Lupton (I think it was Houck), and there was a wonderful old trading post (had an old wood floor and vigas) attached that had some really beautiful things.
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I don’t know if the Amerindian site has the name right, because it says Pat. The store I linked says Paul Chee, but it’s the same mark. I might have to do a little more googling! The Amerindian site has some mistakes on it, so I usually try to cross-check it.
Is anyone here with one of the big hallmark books able to find this hallmark, and see if it’s Paul or Pat?
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Then I bet the store just got the name printed wrong, cuz it’s the same hallmark on the item they have listed.
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Welcome to the forum. The squash set is very nice. Thank you for sharing them with us.
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Welcome, you both have good taste, beautiful pieces! Very nice turquoise in both, congrats
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Thanks! No hallmark on the cuff. When you say a sand or tufa cast piece, is that like a lost wax process for making metal jewelry? We did that in ‘light metals’ class (aka metal shop) back at school and made lots of wonderful silver jewelry. I love it too but don’t wear it often enough. Maybe I will now that I’m learning more about it. It’s a very heavy piece but it’s shaped perfect for my wrist so once I put it on its quite comfy. I clean the silver with my old tattered rouge rag but I’m careful not to get too near the stones. I don’t remember much about stopping in Upton except my mother buying the squash blossom. I do still have the receipt and it was purchased at a store called ‘Tomahawk Indian’. I used to wear it with a white tee shirt and my ripped up Lee Rider jeans and my high top Converse sneakers and I thought I was just all that!
Btw, I found 2 Pat Chee pieces online and one has leaves which are very similar to mine.
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Thanks. Can you tell me anything about the turquoise or the coral?
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I think that was a perfect way to wear it!
Here are a couple links on sand/tufa casting; they are different than lost wax.Tufa vs. Cement Casting
The Sandcast Thread
You also might enjoy this thread…Turquoise Fashion
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Only guessing. The cuff looks like Egyptian. On the squash I would say good quality older #8. But there are many types it could be.
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