Vintage 1970s Blue and Green Turquoise Nugget, Howlite, and Sterling Bead Navajo 23" Necklace

This chunky, Navajo necklace features blue and green turquoise nuggets strung together with round white howlite beads. The chunky turquoise nuggets pop against the sterling silver and white howlite. It's a fun southwestern strand for anyone who loves turquoise!

Turquoise originates from the 17th-century French word "turquois," which is derived from the Turkish word for turquoise, the major exporter of the gem to Europe. Turquoise was first mined over 5,000 years ago in the Sinai Peninsula and was used to adorn ancient Egyptian jewelry and clothing. The ancient Persians have been mining turquoise for 2,000 years and used it to cap their palace domes, symbolizing heaven on Earth. Pre-Columbian Native Americans mined turquoise from Central Mexico to the southwestern US.

To learn more about the history of Navajo jewelry, read our blog post here. 

The necklace is in excellent condition with minimal signs of wear. There are no stamps or marks on the piece. 

The necklace is 23" long and measures 5/16 inch wide, weighing 40.58 grams.