Vintage Navajo King's Manassa Turquoise Ball Bead Arrow Stamped Sterling Silver Ring - Size 6.5

Vintage Navajo King's Manassa Turquoise Ball Bead Arrow Stamped Sterling Silver Ring

Vintage:
Approx. 1970's

Size:
Approx. 6.5

About:
King's Manassa turquoise came from the King Turquoise Mine located near Manassa, Colorado. It was originally called the Lick Skillet Mine and is thought to be the oldest turquoise mine in Colorado. The mine was actively mined by Native Americans for centuries and was rediscovered in 1890 by I. P. King.
The Manassa turquoise mine produces an incredibly wide range of colors and qualities, from deep emerald greens to deep sky-blue.
The mine is not currently active, so Manassa turquoise is quite rare on today's market!

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.