Inv# LL1T20.1901

Guarantee:  necklace consisting of a single strand of Kingman Turquoise semi-precious gemstone graduated discs, with a 12-disc center & Sterling Silver end beads & clasp; approx. 20” long &  hand-made by Kewa artist, Lupé Lovato. Weight: 79 grams.

Description:  approx. 20” long, single-strand necklace consisting of over 150 USA Kingman Turquoise polished, graduated discs; the necklace centered with 12 large Kingman Turquoise discs & terminating at each end with a sterling silver bead & clasp.

Materials:   USA Kingman Turquoise semi-precious gemstones; sterling silver.

Dimensions [approximate, with minor variations due to being hand-cut, hand-polished, & hand-drilled by the artist, & due to variations in natural gemstone material]. 

• End-to-end length approximately 20”

• Graduated Kingman Turquoise discs’ diameter:  range from 0.1” diameter at the clasp ends and gradually increasing in diameter to 0.5” diameter at the necklace center

• Graduated Kingman Turquoise discs thickness:  0.07”>0.15 thick

• 12 Kingman Turquoise center discs graduated in size:  0.5” diameter; varying thickness 0.08” > 0.14”

Weight:  79 grams

Comments.   In Fall 2019 pre-Covid, we acquired this beautiful necklace newly hand-crafted by Kewa Pueblo jewelry artisan LUPÉ LOVATO. Lupé uses knowledge & skills passed down from generations of his Kewa ancestors to produce beautiful and unique designs.   His jewelry is sought after because he is well known for producing only high quality earrings and necklaces.  Why this reputation for high quality?

• He personally hand-selects the gemstone stock to obtain the highest quality & beauty of material.  Even if there is a backlog of demand for his signature necklaces & earrings, he refuses to make any jewelry if high-grade gemstone stock is not available to meet his standards.  For instance, despite high demands for his jet and turquoise necklaces in 2019, he did not make any for months because his favorite high quality JET gemstone stock was not available—so he refused to use lower grade, soft Jet to fill the backlog of orders.

• From the bulk gemstone stock, Lupé hand-selects, hand-cuts, hand-shapes, hand-polishes, & hand-drills individual pieces so the hundreds of graduated, polished turquoise discs form a uniformly-colored, smoothly graduated, evenly polished, beautiful necklace. 

• To ensure necklaces lay flat and form an attractive curved center when worn, & so the center doesn’t bind, Lupé inserts a tiny, hand-cut, hand-polished disc in between each of the 12 larger center turquoise discs.  Failure to use this time-consuming, intricate step results in a necklace that binds at the center when worn, refuses to lay flat on the chest, pinches skin, & causes the center discs to bind—all a sign of lesser quality, cheaper necklaces.

When you reflect on all of these procedures--and the fact that a necklace this size contains over 150 individually selected, cut, shaped, polished, & drilled gemstones—it is indeed an amazing piece of art that is an honor and joy to wear.  We feel privileged to be able to offer Lupé Lovato’s beautiful jewelry art.