Navajo Single Strand Heishi and Blue Nugget Turquoise Necklace

ca. 1980

23" L

Hand Crafted from Sterling Silver, Heishi Beads, 4 Sterling Silver Beads, 21 Blue Nugget Turquoise Stones with Hook and Eye Enclosure

Excellent Condition

The Navajo Single Strand Heishi and Blue Nugget Turquoise Necklace is a classic style of Native American jewelry made by Navajo (Diné) artisans.

Heishi is a very small, hand-rolled disc beads traditionally made from turquoise, shell, coral, or other natural materials. In modern Navajo heishi, the beads are often made from stabilized turquoise or other stones, cut into tiny discs, drilled, and meticulously strung. “Single strand” means one continuous strand of these tiny beads (as opposed to multi-strand “liquid silver” or multi-row designs).

Blue Nugget Turquoise are larger, irregularly shaped nuggets of natural turquoise in a beautiful blue color. These are usually spaced out along the heishi strand as focal points. High-quality pieces use turquoise from famous American mines such as Kingman, Morenci, Bisbee, Number Eight, or Sleeping Beauty (Arizona), or Royston (Nevada).