Another beaut. I think it has an insect look. I like the textured shank look better. Not crazy about the circles but that’s just me. Nice work on the stone and the adjustable shank is a good idea.
2 Likes
Thanks @StevesTrail!
It’s a cicada with curled up legs! Just kidding!
I don’t have any stamps, except for my “D”. So I raided hubby’s tools out in the garage and I found a nail set that I could use to make a circle stamp.
2 Likes
It is beautiful! And I love cicadas 
I really like the circles on the band.
If you ever change your mind about making jewelry for others, let me know 
I have these beautiful natural stones that are in my mom’s earrings from the '40s that broke, and I still want to eventually have them made into something else.
3 Likes
I didn’t think it looked like a bug until Steve brought it up, so maybe!
I thought the circles echoed the little spirals. I will probably use that nail set again in the future.
1 Like
I made this ring last weekend.
I chose this stone from a group of old stock Bisbee cabs. There were several stones with this water web look, and I had to have it!
I smoothed out some of the edges, and I couldn’t believe how hard this stone was, compared to other turquoise stones that I’ve worked with in the past.
I guess that’s a good sign that it’s high grade.
I made this ring with an adjustable shank. I’ve seen a lot of NA rings made this way, and it seems to be the solution, as my knuckles swell off and on due to arthritis.
19 Likes
It’s so gorgeous! Love that stone. I also like the varying sizes of the silver beads. You will enjoy wearing that one!
1 Like
Thanks Zia!
It’s mostly made from scrap bits and end pieces.
I do like the freedom of the adjustable shank. I can open or tighten it ever so slightly, and it will work on different fingers.
2 Likes
Re: the watch tips pendant… I like it!! Great idea, turned out great. Thanks for documenting the process 
. And love your textured bands!!!
1 Like
Thanks @Bmpdvm
I couldn’t figure out what the heck to do with those watch tips. I hated that they were in my stash, unworn and unloved.
Everything I do is an experiment, including those textures!
2 Likes
I’ve not seen Native made rings with adjustable bands till this last trip to AZ. The Navajo lady that was helping me at Cameron Trading Post showed me quite a few in their cases.
2 Likes
Very nice again @Stracci ! The adjustable band is a good idea. Goes well with the aging process 
5 Likes
@Stracci Beautiful ring & cab. I learned something new. I wasn’t aware that there’s Water Webbed Bisbee turquoise. Help me to understand an adjustable band. So, one end of the band isn’t soldered to the back of the piece. Is that how it works? Can you adjust/open the band with your fingers or do you have to use a jewelry tool? Thanks!
3 Likes
@Ziacat @StevesTrail
I might never make a ring in a fixed size again!
My friend Rodney Coriz suggested this to me a while ago, but at the time, I didn’t need to do it.
Now it’s a different story😵💫
@Patina Yes, the shank is soldered only on one end.
The silver shank is thick and robust so it keeps its shape really good. But if you need to, you can move it a little bit with your fingers and open it up just a smidge.
4 Likes
Beautiful waterweb cab @Stracci, and the ring turned out great. Like @Patina, I don’t think I’ve seen a known Bisbee cab with waterwebbing. However, Durango silver posts a beautiful Bisbee waterweb cab that also has some spiderweb:
This makes me wonder how waterweb is actually formed and if all mines produce waterweb to some degree. Also interesting that the waterweb pattern slowly morphs into actual matrix.
When searching online I found a lot of stated waterweb cabs that imo, is a light matrix spiderweb pattern. There were pieces like this stated to be waterweb:
I’d call this spiderweb because there is actually host rock (matrix) creating the pattern. When host rock is not present, I call it waterweb. Opinions?
Here’s another one from Kingman Water Web Bracelet by Matthew White – Sedona Indian Jewelry
Is this water web or spiderweb? I’d call it spiderweb, but ???
2 Likes
Grading Turquoise Matrix: What Turquoise Patterns are Made of – T.Skies Jewelry This article discusses the differences, but the author is calling water web something I would have thought was spider web simply because the matrix isn’t bluish, but I really don’t know.
This article is very interesting, but this author says birdseye web IS water web. It looks more like the second stone you posted, @Bmpdvm which I would have probably referred to as waterweb, because the webbing looks bluish. This stone I have was referred to as birdseye Kingman by the artist who did buy it directly from the Kingman mine.
So…
5 Likes
Beautiful, love the bigger pieces.
1 Like
@Ziacat. I agree; I would call the “birdseye” examples presented in the article spiderweb because it appears include matrix. I think the problem is in determining if the pattern is or is not actually matrix. But when matrix particles are diluted with turquoise, it becomes lighter in color, making look different. To my mind, true water web involves varying turquoise coloration without any matrix.
Years ago the water web turquoise I saw was like the cab @Stracci used for her ring, no matrix. Now it seems that there is so much more turquoise called water web. Wish I could find an authoritative discussion of how water web actually forms. But doubt if that will happen😊
And then there is the birdseye question. I’ve seen both spiderweb and waterweb turquoise called Birdseye. So…there you go😄
4 Likes
I looked quite a bit, and couldn’t find any actual definition of exactly what it is or what causes it, except for the two articles that I linked, and they somewhat disagree with each other. But then I didn’t do a very deep dive.
1 Like
