Leo Yazzie Creates Distinctive Contemporary Navajo Jewelry

Leo Yazzie is a well-known Navajo silver and goldsmith born and raised in Arizona. He has been making fine Native American jewelry for more than three decades, and his designs are notably influenced by the rug designs of his late grandmother and mother. Hence, Leo Yazzie's pieces feature intricate cutouts reflecting storm weaving designs that can be interpreted as icons of the dramatic monuments and mesas of Navajo land. Leo's pieces are made of gold and silver and are typically finished with exquisitely inlaid bright and beautiful stones like natural turquoise, pink and red coral, opal, lapis lazuli, and sugulite.

 

Each Leo Yazzie piece is highly collectible and you can find many of them from a reputable retailer of Natural American Turquoise and fine Native American jewelry online. The best retailer works directly with him, so you can purchase his rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants, and necklaces at highly competitive prices. Remember to buy Leo Yazzie jewelry from a retailer that can provide a certificate of authenticity to assure you the artist's name, his tribal affiliation, a retail value of the item, and the materials used.

Some of Leo's pieces are highly prized for their beauty and craftsmanship. The rare gem grade Red Mountain spiderweb turquoise and Mediterranean Oxblood Coral on solid 14k gold over sterling silver link bracelet is a perfect example of this. The bracelet is considered a fine masterpiece and has been featured in a book on American Indian Jewelry by Dr. Gregory Schaff. This piece epitomizes elegance and beauty in a contemporary setting.

Leo Yazzie's rare gem grade Red Mountain spiderweb turquoise on solid 14k gold ring is another fine piece that you should consider adding to your collection. It is a lovely work of art that resulted from cutting four cabochons. The combination of Red Mountain turquoise, deep blue lapis, and deep oxblood red Mediterranean coral created a stunning effect.

Add Colorful Kirk Smith Jewelry to Your Jewelry Accessory Collection

Although Kirk Smith passed away in 2012 due to a tragic automobile accident, his legacy lives on through his colorful and intricate jewelry. Kirk's bracelets are valuable pieces that stand out in any jewelry collection. They can become beautiful heirloom pieces, too. His designs are notably elegant and artistic as he worked as a silversmith beginning in the 1980s. Kirk learned sand casting and worked with primitive tools to craft and design silver when he was younger. The work he put into his jewelry makes every bracelet an impressive work of art.

 

His high grade Turquoise Mountain Spider-web leaf design bracelet is one of his most incredibly intricate creations. It has six layers of sterling silver leaf designs and a striking sky blue turquoise.  This bracelet is an awe inspiring piece and a fine collectible. The tight golden chocolate brown spiderweb matrix detail on the turquoise adds more character to it, and the the intricate bezel work and hand-twisted wire surrounding the cabochon makes it stand out even more.

The bracelet has four crescent-shaped stamps, deeply embedded and portrayed in the lower and upper areas. Deep oxidation provides a rustic appeal to the overall esthetic of the piece. The leaves are almost lifelike with their realistic veins. Small sterling silver drops accent the tips of the leaves to finish the look.

Kirk Smith created another bracelet using rare high-grade natural Turquoise Mountain from Arizona. This time, the bezel has an intricate design that surrounds the stone while accompanied by a hand-braided wire on the outer border. The crescent-shaped stamp work is the focal point of the bracelet's silver work, but the turquoise itself takes center stage with its lovely sky blue hue and golden brown webbing. Kirk used heavy gauge sterling silver for the band.