Navajo White Buffalo Turquoise Ring

Navajo sterling silver and White Buffalo turquoise ring by Avin Joe. Square shaped natural, untreated stone set in sterling silver with classic twisted rope border. Stamped "Sterling" with maker's initials "AJ". Avin Joe, master Navajo silversmith born and raised on the Navajo Reservation, learned the trade through his father Phillip Joe who was taught by his uncle Kenneth Begay. Avin learned the basics through observation and developed his skills by taking silversmithing classes ag Ganado High School. During the next several years, Avin worked with various metals to learn their properties, reaction to heat, stamping, etc. and since the mid 1990s has worked almost exclusively in silver, perfecting his skills, to become a master silversmith, building top quality pieces featured in the finest galleries, museums and collections around the world.

White Buffalo is often referred to as turquoise due to its discovery in a turquoise mine. The reason behind its illustrious white color is due to its formation by the same mineralization process, "regular" in which turquoise undergoes. However, the difference between this and other turquoise is that it lacks the presence of heavy metals like copper, iron, or zinc, which add the common turquoise colors in the blue-green-yellow spectrum. This stone, sometimes called Sacred White Buffalo, is very rare and coveted for its distinct qualities. This type of stone and jewelry made from it has become increasingly popular in recent years in Southwestern and Native American art communities.