Native handmade Julian Coriz Santo Domingo Spiny Oyster Turquoise Necklace

This baby is HUGE, I can't help myself I just love over the top jewelry. I actually left it behind and then had to circle back because I just couldn't resist it. The shell pendant has been hand cut and polished from a naturally colored spiny oyster shell, then overlaid in a mosaic with turquoise, jet, and mother of pearl, in a traditional style pueblo southwest peoples have been doing for hundreds of years (the shells were traded from the Baja area and before they had glue they used pine pitch to attach the mosaic). If you look closely at the disc beads (also made of spiny oyster but a bit more of a peach/orange color), he also inlaid turquoise bits into the natural fissures of the shell material. (I'm not great at measuring precise bead millimeters, but these are at least 10mm, seems even a little wider) So cool!! This middle shell measures a whopping 4.25 inches long and 3.75 inches wide. Just a warning it is a bit heavy if you're sensitive, it is 343 grams total weight. The chain/disc bead part is 10 inches on each side, there is also a 4 inch chain attached on the end to adjust the length. The chain and clasp are sterling silver. Brick and Mortar retail on this one would be $650 (or more depending on the shop!)