Spiny Oyster Shell and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Earrings by Elouise Kee, Navajo

These earrings feature round orange Spiny Oyster Shell sitting atop a tear drop Sleeping Beauty Turquoise stone, connected by a paperclip link. With a length of 2 inches, they are expertly crafted by Navajo artist Elouise Kee.

The Sleeping Beauty Turquoise mine is located in Gila County, Arizona. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Mine has recently closed. It is now obtained from private stashes. The turquoise mine produces uniform blue turquoise that is easily matched and used in many styles of Native American jewelry.

According to research, spiny oysters are found buried at deep depths or attached to rocky reefs. The deeper they dig, the darker the pigment of the oyster shell which is how the colors range from a bright orange to a deep purple.