O ALEXIUS Navajo S Silver #8 Edgar Turquoise Bracelet Start Price USD 1,499.95 Current Price USD 1,499.95 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, September 07, 2008 End Time Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Location Topeka, Kansas See more about 'O ALEXIUS Navajo S Silver #8 Edgar Turquoise Bracelet' Description Oscar Alexius has won several awards at the prestigious Gallup Ceremonial competitions over the years. He spent the first part of his career working as a benchsmith for a Gallup trading company before striking out on his own although he occasionally works with his friend, T*o*m*m*y  J*a*c*k*s*o*n. His work is now so much in demand that he can afford two residences -- he lives part of the year in Window Rock, AZ and the remainder in Yatehey (the Navajo word for "hello"), NM -- and supports his wife and six children. He belongs to the Salt Clan. Along with a handful of other superb Four Corners area Navajo artists whose names collectors would recognize immediately, Oscar was and remains one of key artists in creating, popularizing, and preserving the old early 20th century Navajo jewelry designs that were danger of being lost forever. This oldstyle bracelet with an old pawn finish is a prime exemplar of the revivalist movement and of Oscar's meticulous research, silversmithing skills, and use of the very best turquoise. If you're a collector of the finest in rare, classic southwestern turquoise, then you're likely familiar with Old #8 or Edgar turquoise. The #8 mine has a fascinating and colorful history and has had at least seven different ownerships since it was discovered by a Carlin, Nevada barber in 1925. Some owners did nothing with the mine while others mined a little medium grade turquoise most of which went to the Native American jewelry trade. It wasn't, however, until after the five Edgar brothers bought the mine that it's full potential was realized. The easy to access veins of turquoise had mostly played out when they bought the mine so they hired a bulldozer to dig a trench. And what a fantastic decision that turned out to be when they gigantic nodules of the finest quality spiderweb turquoise ever found in Nevada with the possible exception of Lander Blue. The famous Zuni artist, C.F. Wallace, (whose descendants make fine Zuni jewelry) bought a nine pound stone for $1600.00 which was a small fortune and an unheard price at that time. The largest nodule found in this profitable little trench weighed in at 150 lbs., and I believe at one time it was on display in a New Mexico shop. It is from this cache of highly collectible, now quite expensive, and high grade multi hued robin's egg blue spiderweb nodules that the thirteen natural #8 stones in this cluster bracelet comes from. After Lander Blue, top grade #8 Edgar like these stones is considered the most valuable turquoise in the world because of its hardness, color, matrix, and scarcity andn it is the second most expensive per carat after Lander Blue. It is unquestionably investment quality turquoise. The large oval center stone measures 1 and 1/16th by 11/16ths" and the two triangular side both measure 1 and 1/16th" by 5/8ths." Hand twisted sterling silver rope overlay surround each stone, and the twelve various shaped satellite stones range in size from7/16ths" by 5/16ths" to 9/16ths" by 7/16ths." Oscar added a twisted rope overlay around the center stone and around the outside perimeter of the stone cluster selecting three dimensional, conical sunburst beads as accent between the outer stones. Notice the large vertical deeply impressed hand stmaped overlays on both shanks on both sides of the cluster, and you'll see a small story scene. What you'll see is a corn field beneath abundant sunshine (as illustrated by the sun rays, sunburst bead and coiled sunrays) and summer's puffy white clouds so common in the southwest during the growing season. This one of a kind incredible #8 bracelet has an inside measurement of 5¼" and a carefully adjustable opening gap of 1 and 1/8th." If your wrist is 6¼" to 6½" in circumference, this should fit with little or no very gentle adjustment of the shanks and terminals. Highly collectible contemporary domestic turquoise in a fabulous oldstyle bracelet by a famous, award winning Navajo artist! Oscar Alexius's hallmark and sterling stamp are on the back. For the latest information about my listings, please click on About Me in the upper right corner of this listing. Payment is expected no later than ten days after your purchase. Questions: Questions about this item only, please, from serious buyers only and NO questions that are answered in the product description. 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The jewelry I sell isn’t stolen (ebay is a leading venue for stolen merchandise and, yes, some of what you see in the Native American jewelry category is stolen), and the artists and traders have been all paid so you needn’t worry about the police knocking on your door or any letters from attorneys. Everything but pawn sterling silver jewelry and stone necklaces are cleaned and polished with tarnish retardant polish before shipping so that it arrives looking sparkling clean and odor free. Buy Only Authentic Native American Jewelry: If you care whether the jewelry you buy is authentic Native American, please click on the View Seller's Other Items link in the box at the top of the page at right. A substantial percentage of the jewelry offered in the Native American category is actually made in China, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, Mexico, and elsewhere and then misrepresented as Navajo or Zuni. Two-thirds of all so-called Native American jewelry sold in this country is fake, and a lot of it is sold on ebay by sellers who should know better both in terms of the law, good ethics, and knowledge about the true origins of their products. Multiple Item Shipping: For your convenience and savings, multiple jewelry purchases purchased within a 10 day period can be shipped together Priority Mail -- just please let me know when you begin buying. Your new jewelry will be carefully packed by people who care whether your hand made jewelry art arrives in the same condition it was when shipped because it deserves to be properly protected. On international orders, some items can be combined for fixed rate shipping, and others can’t. Please email me if you a question about multiple item international shipping. 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Exact shipping charges will vary by parcel weight, destination, and insurance depending on the size and weight of an item you purchase. Buyers are responsible for paying your country's duties and taxes if any. The U.S. Postal Service no longer furnishes free shipping supplies for international 1st class mail shipments so there will be a $1.00 charge for shipping materials. The Postal Service won’t insure silver, gold, or platinum jewelry so I use a private insurance carrier for international shipments. Shipping rates are best estimates -- if less YOU WILL RECEIVE A PAYPAL REFUND.Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions about international shipments or costs. I ship at cost for Express Mail; at cost + $1.00 for 1st class. 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