Navajo Cripple Creek Turquoise Sterling Silver Earrings

About:
Cripple Creek Turquoise comes from Teller County, Colorado, a historic gold mining district where turquoise was first uncovered as a byproduct of gold mining. Known for its striking “Bertis blue” hue, this stone ranges from vivid turquoise blue to soft blue-green, sometimes accented with a golden matrix. Its high quartz content makes it one of the hardest turquoises in the world, which means it rarely requires treatment. Limited production has made Cripple Creek turquoise a rare and highly collectible stone, with the North Star Mine still producing today. Each piece reflects the rugged beauty of the Colorado Rockies, carrying with it the legacy of both turquoise and gold.

Native American History:
The production of Native American jewelry began thousands of years ago with stones, bones, coral, and shells. Natives turned these materials into wearable jewelry and traded them for other goods between tribes.
Jewelry was also a marker of status within Native American communities. Individuals of the ruling or elite class typically wore more elaborate pieces to indicate their significant place in society.
Native Americans even carved tiny beads out of shells and bones to wear as necklaces or bracelets, similar to the ones we wear today.
They wore pendants on leather strings, rings, and earrings from materials in their surrounding environment.
Much of the jewelry that is on the market today has been influenced by these early jewelry makers.