JSW748 Manassa Turquoise Cuff

Heavy gauge sterling silver cuff with three large turquoise cabochons by Navajo silversmith Rick Martinez. The center stone is 1” x 1 1/4”. The inside of the 1 3/4” wide cuff is 5 1/4” with a 1 1/2” gap. 

Manassa turquoise is known for its blue-green to green color with a golden or brown, non-webbed matrix. The golden matrix comes from the host rock, rhyolite. The King’s Manassa turquoise mine is located in Manassa, Conejos County Colorado.  The site was originally mined by ancestral pueblo people and was rediscovered in the 1890’s by gold prospector I.P.King.

Navajo artist Rick Martinez is an extremely talented silversmith that has practiced his art on the New Mexico Reservation for over 20 years.  He is a full-time silversmith and enjoys producing unique and one of a kind pieces. Rick continues to embrace his culture and has been very inspiring to many young Native American silversmiths.