Orange Spiny Oyster Oval Cuff with Split Shank by Sam Etsitty, Navajo

Sam Etsitty, a Navajo silversmith, set a large polished orange spiny oyster shell cabochon in sterling silver with a split shank design and stamped bezel and terminal detail. Spiny oyster (Spondylus) shell from the Sea of Cortez has been traded across the American Southwest for over a thousand years. The split shank — a band that divides into two strands at the stone — is a classic Navajo ring and cuff construction element that frames the stone while reducing material weight. Available exclusively through Turquoise Mustang.