Vintage 1970s Blue Turquoise, Sterling Silver and Black Leather Cord Southwestern Bolo Tie

Description

Most people believe that the bolo tie, invented in the American Southwest sometime during the 1940s, and since then, has experienced periods of popularity. Bolo ties have become a unisex accessory for the western look, and this vintage bolo from the 1970s features vibrant blue turquoise nuggets set into sterling silver. The black cord is a nice contrast to the blue and silver, and the turquoise ornamental clasp slides to adjust the neck size. Each dangling tip is accented with turquoise, which helps the piece have movement as you walk.

The word turquoise comes from the 17th-century French word “turquois,” meaning Turkish, which is the major exporter of turquoise to Europe. Turquoise was first mined over 5000 years ago in the Sinai Peninsula and adorned ancient Egyptian jewelry and clothing. Ancient Persians have been mining turquoise for 2000 years and used it to cap their palace domes to symbolize heaven on Earth. Pre-Columbian Native Americans mined turquoise from Central Mexico to the southwestern US. To learn more, read our blog here:

The bolo tie is in very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear. The silver has minor signs of wear with fine lines and marks, but nothing visible or noticeable. The “black” cord is a very, very dark green dye. Over time as the piece was in storage, the cord’s color came in contact with the silver transferred to the silver; this is only visible on the inside of the clasp and is not visible while you wear, just while you adjust the slide. The turquoise is not chipped, cracked, or dyed and is secure in the sawtooth bezel setting. The silver has areas of dark patina which has not been polished but could be upon request. The slide and clasp are fully functional, and the cord is not frayed or torn.

The bolo measures 22″ long when lying flat, the slide measures 1-1/4″ wide and 1-3/4″ tall.

I try to show an accurate picture of the item in my photographs and the written description. Please note the size given in the description, as images can often appear more substantial than the actual object.

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