Inv# LL1JT25.1901

Guarantee:  25” total length graduated disc necklace consisting of a single strand of Jet & Kingman Turquoise semi-precious gemstones, with 5 Kingman turquoise ‘corn’ dangles & Sterling Silver end beads & clasp; hand-crafted by Kewa artist, Lupé Lovato. Weight: 110 grams. LL1JT25.1901

Summary Description:  approx. 25” long, single-strand necklace of Jet & Kingman Turquoise polished graduated discs; the necklace centered with 5 turquoise ‘corn’ dangles & terminating at each end with a sterling silver bead & clasp.

Materials:  Jet & 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].  Measurements made using a micrometer.

• Necklace length: total end-to-end length approximately 25”

• Graduated discs’ diameter: range in diameter from 0.2” diameter at the clasp ends & gradually increasing in diameter to 0.6” diameter at the necklace center

• Graduated discs thickness: approximately 0.1” thick

• Turquoise ‘corn’ dangles: ‘corn’ lengths graduate from approximately 0.9” long to 1.2” long for the center ‘corn’, with ‘corns’ varying in thickness from 0.2>0.3” thick.

Weight:  110 grams

Turquoise Colors: You may see turquoise color differences in the photos we posted. Turquoise can look more blue or more green depending on lighting differences and intensity. We purposely took photos in differing light conditions so you could see how the turquoise color may appear different in differing light conditions when you wear the jewelry.

Comments.   In Fall 2019 pre-Covid, we acquired this stunning necklace by placing a special order with 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, for several months he did NOT make any 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. We acquired this baauty by placing a special order and patiently waiting until his favorite top quality jet stone was available for him to begin hand-crafting this necklace to fulfill our order.

• From the bulk gemstone stock, Lupé hand-cuts, hand-shapes, hand-polishes, & hand-drills individual pieces so that earrings pairs have beautifully matched gemstones, and so the hundreds of graduated, polished turquoise and jet discs form a smoothly graduated, evenly polished, beautiful necklace. 

• To ensure necklaces lay flat and form an attractive curved center when worn, & so the center ‘corn’ dangles can hang freely, Lupé inserts a tiny, hand-cut, hand-polished disc at each side of the center 5 ‘corn’ dangles.  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 the skin, & causes the dangles to bind—all a sign of lesser quality, cheaper necklaces.

• The 5 center turquoise ‘corn’ dangles are each hand-selected from rough stock to match in color and appearance; then individually hand-cut, hand-shaped & graduated in size, hand-polished and hand-drilled to result in a stunning centerpiece ‘dangle’.

When you reflect on all of these procedures--and the fact that a necklace this size contains about 200 individually selected, cut, shaped, polished gemstones, all by hand—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.