The stone is smooth, Taken without a flash in natural light.
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This ones bugging me…
It is turquoise; I’m not sure what kind. My best guess would be Kingman.
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Thanks
Do you think it’s an old piece?
I would call this Harvey Era revival. Meaning that it was made more recently, but is meant to invoke Fred Harvey style bracelets from the first half of the 20th century. I’m not sure on the date, but I would say no older than 70’s and my feeling is more recent than that. In particular I think this stone does not look older. Older stones will usually have a bit of a duller appearance, not the high gloss that you see here which is an indication that this stone is stabilized. And since they are old and unstabilized, they will darken over time and I don’t think would have this very bright two toned appearance.
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Hi! What are some tell tale signs that differentiate a Fred Harvey piece versus a Revival Piece? I have numerous cuffs like this & some “stamped” cuffs.
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this one is just off somehow. the stamp, in particular that sun stamp, just doesn’t look right. Overall the band looks cast to me, rather than stamped. And the way the bowtie sits on the band doesnt seem quite right for an old piece. the whole thing look too “crisp” to be old. you would expect some creases in the shank where it is split, where an owner once over-squoze it to fit, this looks like it has never been worn/adjusted/bent to fit. IDK. I’m interested in other opinions.
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I was also trying to decide if the stamping looked cast or actually stamped, and wasn’t sure. In fact, I was wondering if the whole bowtie center element may be cast as well, but I’m also not sure on that. I, too, welcome other opinions.
Tara, the age of the turquoise is a clue to whether it’s a Fred Harvey Era or revival piece. Artists do sometimes re purpose older stones, but when you have a new stone you know you don’t have an old piece. Patina is another clue. I’m open to hearing other tips that others might have as I do sometimes think it’s tricky to tell Fred Harvey Era from revival pieces.
I also wanted to note that most Fred Harvey style jewelry was machine made tourist jewelry and would not actually be considered Native American.
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Comparing some of my other pieces & I do see a difference in the “stamping”
This picture isn’t the greatest (it’s what I have available now on my phone, got an 70lb bulldog in my lap 
won’t dare disturb her)
Do the first three cuffs appear to be Fred Harvey Era as well?
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Yes it does look crisp! Wondering if that fake patina substance (liver sulphur?) was applied in the crevices.
Appreciate you checking it out.
excellent read here:
https://nativeamericanjewelrytips.wordpress.com/tag/fred-harvey/
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Good link, Steve. I’ll take that 35 cent breakfast of steak, eggs, hash browns, six wheat pancakes with maple syrup, apple pie and coffee.
I personally hate the term Fred Harvey “Era” because it really refers to a certain style of jewelry and not an era; traditional Native American jewelry was made during the same time period. I like the article’s suggestion of “railroad style” jewelry.
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Very informative, thanks for the link, My grandmother did refer to a few of her bracelets as “pretty girl bracelets” I figured she had made that up but now I see that is the actual term!
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You don’t want the mutton chops?
Thanks for your help, I like learning about the pieces that I inherited.
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Very informative article. I’d always associated Fred Harvey with the development of tourism in national parks…food service and souvenir shops. It wasn’t until I saw so many old bracelets associated with his name that didn’t quite look Native American -made that I wondered if they were fakes or if Indians worked for him or if this was some kind of cultural appropriation or what to call it!
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