Inv# JNJC5Th1904

Guarantee:    delicate, light-weight, 27.5” long, 5-strand turquoise and brown clam shell heishi necklace by Kewa Native American necklace artist, Jennifer Calabaza.   56 grams total weight.  Sterling Silver clasps and end cones.

Price:  $300 regular price, including FREE Priority Mail & insurance—48 states + DC

Detailed Description.  A very delicate, light-weight [56 grams], 5-strand necklace by Kewa Native American artisan Jennifer Calabaza, measuring approximately 27.5” long end-to-end. Each end consists of 1” long Sterling Silver clasp and cone, followed by 2.3” of each strand covered with brown clam shell heishi and the rest of each strand comprised of irregular-shaped small turquoise stones, spaced approx. 0.2” apart by 6-9 brown clam shell heishi beads.  Turquoise: each strand contains 70+ but very tiny turquoise pieces, so the 5 strands contain a total of 350+ turquoise pieces of irregular thickness and shape.  Most turquoise pieces are very small 0.2 inches in length & varying 0.02 to 0.1 inch thick, but mostly under 0.1” thick.  This is why this necklace is such light weight and delicate. Heishi:  the brown clam shell heishi beads are circular in shape ranging between 0.09 to 0.1” diameter and 0.01” to 0.05” thickness. Each strand contains over 550 heishi beads, resulting in a 5-strand total of 2500-3000 hand-strung heishi.  Shape and thickness irregularities are due to natural shell and turquoise characteristics and effects of polishing and hole-drilling individual pieces. Since its crafting by Jennifer in Fall 2019 pre-Covid, it has NOT been sold.  We do NOT allow returns or exchanges, so it has remained entirely new inventory.

Turquoise colors in photos. The color of turquoise changes with lighting changes—sometimes looking more blue and other times looking more green. You will observe differing shades of blue or green in the photos we posted of this necklace’s turquoise. We purposely take the photos with varying types of light so that you can see the different look of the necklace turquoise like you will see when you wear it in differing light conditions.

Detailed Dimensions: [Measurements are approximate, using a micrometer; there are minor variations inherent in hand-made jewelry and consistent with variations in natural materials.]

·      Total end-to-end length:  27.5” including Sterling Silver clasps & end cones 

·      Clam shell heishi bead diameter variation:  approx. 0.09>>0.1”

·      Clam shell heishi bead thickness variation: 0.01” to 0.05”

·      Irregular-shaped tiny Turquoise pieces- length:  0.2”

·      Irregular-shaped Turquoise pieces- thickness variation: 0.02>0.1” but mostly under 0.1”

·      Weight:  56 grams

Comments:  We are pleased to offer this delicate, lightweight 5-strand necklace by Kewa [Santo Domingo] Native American necklace artisan Jennifer Calabaza.  This delicate, lightweight necklace is priced lower than normal for a 27” 5-strand because of the tiny size of the turquoise stones, which accounts for the very light weight of the necklace for a 5-strand.  Jennifer’s turquoise and heishi necklaces are moderately priced because Jennifer does NOT cut, polish and drill her own turquoise stones or heishi.   She purchases the heishi and turquoise already cut, polished and drilled, as do other of the more moderately priced Native American jewelry artists.  Jennifer then decides on the necklace design she wants to create, selects individual turquoise pieces, arranges and strings the heishi and turquoise consistent with her vision for the necklace.  Think of the skill and patience involved in envisioning and stringing over 2500 tiny heishi beads interspersed with over 300 turquoise stones.  Obviously, any multi-strand necklace that contained hand-formed, hand-polished and hand-drilled turquoise and heishi would be much more expensive due to the hundreds of hours required to do so.

We appreciate your time and interest in considering Jennifer’s attractive and modestly priced necklaces.  This style of necklace looks great in either informal or formal situations. In purchasing this authentic Native American jewelry, you also are supporting the preservation of art and culture passed down by generations of Kewa Native Americans.