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BY LISA DANTE
Did you know that turquoise is considered a sacred stone by Native Americans? It’s also considered to be healing and protective. If you don’t believe that, one thing that we can all agree on is that one of the oldest gemstones makes a truly stunning choice of accessories.
I’m not sure that the popularity of turquoise ever went away, but if it did, it’s back in a big way. It’s extremely versatile to fit almost any fashion vibe. Often associated with country-western fashion when set in silver, turquoise goes completely glam when set in gold.
The gemstone ranges in color from blue to blue-green and greenish gray. I’m told by the experts that the actual color depends on the varying levels of copper present. Genuine turquoise can be expensive, but well worth the investment.
One of the most impressive and best collections I’ve ever seen was on a recent trip to the always charming Hill Country town of Fredericksburg. This storybook, quaint little town, mostly known for its many enchanting Texas vineyards and wineries is considered by many to be the “new Aspen.” It’s about an hour and a half drive from San Antonio. On a recent visit there, I walked into Fredericksburg Jewelers on Main Street and the first thing I noticed was the extensive collection of gorgeous and powerful authentic Native American turquoise jewelry in the gleaming glass cases. There were pieces to accommodate every style and budget. The extremely knowledgeable and friendly, family owned sales staff were happy to answer any questions. They carry genuine turquoise jewelry and more in every shade range and just browsing the amazing collections was an eye opening experience of pure joy and wonderment. I thought about the individual artists whose talented and loving hands created each piece by hand and all of the work and commitment involved in the design and creation process. They even carry Old Pawn pieces.
WHAT IS “OLD PAWN?”
In my searches for authentic Native American turquoise jewelry I kept running across the term, “Old Pawn Jewelry.”
What exactly does this mean? What I found out was that Old PawnJewelry has a very special story to tell. Vintage Indian jewelry carries a great legacy. Over the course of a lifetime these precious pieces have been passed down from generation to generation. Many pieces are several decades old and highly valued for their unique quality and skilled craftsmanship. Basically, if financial support was needed many families would pawn these heirlooms for a specific period of time. If the debt couldn’t be repaid within the agreed upon time it would be sold to the general public. Eventually some of the pieces are picked up by dealers and sold to various merchants.
I’ve also heard the term used to simply describe magnificent , very special, vintage, authentic Native American jewlery of the finest stones and quality, not necessarily anything that was ever pawned. Just imagine the great history of the piece, where it came from and who the artist was. You can find the name of the artist engraved on the back of the piece.
THE WILD WEST
As we embark on a new year, many of us have had the time to clean out a few closets. But one particular look that stays classic forever is western chic. Whether you’re wearing your favorite pair of blue jeans or classic cowboy boots, the look is timeless.
So what does the Wild West look like for 2021? Popular TV shows like Yellowstone and Westworld have given armchair outlaws a bit of a renaissance right now. The fashion industry has deputized the western look once again! The look never goes out of style. I was in Billy’s Western Wear in Boerne recently and there’s a reason they’ve been in business for 40 years. Timeless, classic, yet modern western chic in every way.
Even if you’re a city slicker, you can pull off western chic too.
Yeehaw and Happy Trails in 2021! Now if they will just hurry up with the next season of Yellowstone…..
//SA
