Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Inlay Sterling Band Ring

A handcrafted turquoise inlay ring from the American Southwest Not hallmarked with the makers name. Navajo, Zuni, and Pueblo silversmiths all worked in this style. In the American Southwest, many tribes of Native Americans have traditionally used turquoise for trade. However, many of these tribes also hold turquoise in high esteem for spiritual purposes. The United States and China are the two largest suppliers of turquoise today. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise comes from the Sleeping Beauty Mine near Globe, Arizona. Since the early 1970s, this mine was a major producer of turquoise. Artisans and jewelry companies love Sleeping Beauty Turquoise for its lack of matrix and reliable even color. However, turquoise mining operations ceased in 2012. This mine is still active and currently produces copper. There are currently no plans to mine new turquoise. Each year, the current supply shrinks as a hungry market continues purchasing this stone. This ring can be sized due to its design by any competent jewler.