At a Glance:

Design: Native American stone-forward ring with elongated vertical turquoise cabochon
Stone: Turquoise consistent with Royston material
Color: Vivid blue-green with warm golden matrix
Accent: Chased crescent shoulder band applied over the shank
Metal: .925 sterling silver
Artist: Signed R. MAYES | Robert Mayes, Navajo silversmith
Era: Circa late 1980s
Status: Signed vintage period piece
Condition: Fine — see SCJ Vintage Condition Guide

Specifications:

• Wear scale: medium-large with high visual impact
• Stone: 1 1/8" x 1/2" (bezel to bezel)
• Face width: 1/2"
• Face length: 1 1/8"
  
• Ring size: 7.25 (adjustable to approx. full size up)
  
• Weight: 12.9 grams

Gallery Note:

This Navajo ring is centered on a vivid blue-green turquoise cabochon with warm golden matrix and strong visual movement. The stone’s color range, matrix patterning, and organic depth are consistent with Royston district material, giving the ring a vibrant, stone-forward presence.

The silverwork is intentionally restrained, with a slim bezel that allows the turquoise to command the composition. Chased crescent details along the shoulders introduce subtle movement while keeping the overall design clean, balanced, and wearable.

The adjustable shank carries quiet structural strength, remaining wider where it meets the face and tapering at the center for comfort. Signed R. MAYES and attributed to Navajo silversmith Robert Mayes, this late-1980s ring reflects a period of Southwestern studio jewelry where bold turquoise cabochons and minimal silverwork were often paired for maximum visual impact.

Hallmark & Maker Notes: 

Robert Mayes is referenced in the secondary market as a Navajo silversmith associated with sterling silver jewelry signed R. MAYES or RM. Public biographical information appears limited, so this attribution is based on the hallmark, comparable market references, and the construction of the piece. His known market examples often place emphasis on the stone, pairing turquoise or other cabochons with restrained sterling silverwork.

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At a Glance:

Design: Native American bear claw sterling pendant with turquoise, coral, and intricate silverwork
Stone: Turquoise cabochon consistent with Kingman material
Color: Saturated sky-blue turquoise with minimal matrix
Secondary Stone(s): Two small red-orange coral accents
Accent: Layered wirework, chased leaves, and flower appliqués
Metal: .925 sterling silver
Artist: Signed J.M. | Navajo silversmith under active research
Era: Late 20th century
Status: Vintage Native American jewelry piece with partially faded hallmark
Condition: Very Fine — see SCJ Vintage Condition Guide

Specifications:

• Wear scale: mid-size pendant (chain not included)
• Turquoise: 5/16" x 5/16" (bezel to bezel)
• Width:  1 1/4"
• Total length (including the bail): 2 1/4"
  
• Bail: compact, best suited for fine to medium weight chain
• Weight: 13.1 grams

Gallery Note:

This Native American bear claw pendant brings together symbolic strength, saturated color, and detailed silverwork in a compact yet commanding form. A vivid sky-blue turquoise cabochon anchors the upper center, framed by curling wirework and layered sterling silver appliqué, while two red-orange coral accents introduce warmth beneath the stone.

The turquoise-and-coral contrast gives the pendant a classic Southwestern presence, while the genuine bear claw adds visual weight and traditional collector interest. Its mid-size scale keeps the piece wearable, but the layered silverwork, strong materials, and symbolic form give it a bold presence beyond its size.

Compact yet expressive, this pendant reflects the appeal of vintage Native American jewelry with strong visual character, meaningful materials, and construction details consistent with Navajo work.

Hallmark & Maker Notes:

The reverse bears a partially faded hallmark that appears to read “J.M.” beside a clear STERLING stamp. The maker remains under active research, as the mark has not yet been conclusively matched to a single documented silversmith.

The Navajo attribution is based on the pendant’s genuine bear claw element, sterling silverwork, turquoise-and-coral arrangement, curling wire accents, layered appliqué, and overall late 20th-century Navajo jewelry vocabulary — elements consistent with Navajo work, though maker identification remains unconfirmed due to the softened hallmark.

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At a Glance:

Design: Native American sterling silver Thunderbird sampler earrings with domed concho tops, two-part construction, and two distinct hand-stamped & chased drops
Metal: .925 sterling silver
Artist: Signed VJP | Vincent Joe Platero Sr., Navajo silversmith
Era: Contemporary — late 20th to early 21st century
Status: Signed Navajo silver earrings with distinct sampler-format Thunderbird designs
Condition: Fine — see SCJ Vintage Condition Guide

Specifications:

• Wear scale: lightweight, easy-moving, with noticeable graphic presence
• Total length: 2"
• Width: 1" 
• Closure: posts with clutch disc backs

• Weight: approx. 4.5 grams each

Gallery Note:

These signed Thunderbird earrings by Vincent Joe Platero Sr. center on one of the most enduring motifs in Southwestern silverwork. Platero gives the form a strong graphic read through silhouette, spacing, hand-cut stampwork, chasing, and oxidized recesses rather than stone or added ornament.

The pair has unusual collector interest because the Thunderbird drops are not identical. One is organized around a diamond-and-star center with sharper geometric structure, while the other opens from a sunburst motif with a more spacious radial layout. Together, they read as a compact sampler of Platero’s stampwork vocabulary, with each earring carrying its own handmade character.

The domed concho tops repeat the radiating language below, tying the upper and lower elements together with clarity. At 2" long and approx. 4.5 grams each, the earrings have enough presence to register clearly on the ear while remaining light, comfortable, and easy to wear.

Hallmark & Maker Notes:

The VJP hallmark is registered to Vincent Joe Platero Sr., a Navajo silversmith born in 1957 in Tohajiilee, New Mexico, and associated with the Edgewater and Black Streak Clans. Platero learned silversmithing from his mother, Helen Chavez, and is known for deep hand-cut stampwork, including the demanding practice of fabricating his own stamps.

His jewelry has received recognition at the New Mexico State Fair and the Denver Indian Market and has been carried by galleries across the country. This signed pair reflects the graphic clarity, visible handwork, and strong maker identity collectors look for in Platero silver.

✨ Collectors Circle Members receive a welcome offer on their first purchase.