• A men's Navajo-made white brass belt buckle set with turquoise nuggets and a mother of pearl stone etched with a Native American riding a horse.
  • A men's Navajo-made white brass belt buckle set with turquoise nuggets and a mother of pearl stone etched with a Native American riding a horse.
  • A men's Navajo-made white brass belt buckle set with turquoise nuggets and a mother of pearl stone etched with a Native American riding a horse.
  • A men's Navajo-made white brass belt buckle set with turquoise nuggets and a mother of pearl stone etched with a Native American riding a horse.
  • A men's Navajo-made white brass belt buckle set with turquoise nuggets and a mother of pearl stone etched with a Native American riding a horse.
  • A men's Navajo-made white brass belt buckle set with turquoise nuggets and a mother of pearl stone etched with a Native American riding a horse.
  • A men's Navajo-made white brass belt buckle set with turquoise nuggets and a mother of pearl stone etched with a Native American riding a horse.
  • A men's Navajo-made white brass belt buckle set with turquoise nuggets and a mother of pearl stone etched with a Native American riding a horse.
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Burton's Gems and Opals

Men's Turquoise Nugget Belt Buckle | White Brass | Antique c.1930's

Men's Turquoise Nugget Belt Buckle | White Brass | Antique c.1930's

$880.00 USD
$880.00 USD $880.00 USD
Sale Sold
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A Bit About The Earrings:

Handmade Navajo belt buckle from the 1930's with a 1970's color-etched mother of pearl centerpiece.

Details, details...

The Stones: Turquoise and Mother of Pearl

  • 4 polished turquoise nuggets
  • turquoise measurements:
    • 23.44mm x 20.38mm
    • 16.98mm x 16.10mm
    • 21.92mm x 17.58mm
    • 24.03mm x 18.87mm
  • likely turquoise origin: Royston Mining District, Nevada
  • 1 etched oval cabochon cut mother of pearl shell
  • mother of pearl measurements: 58.09mm (~2.3") x 86.18mm (~3.4")
  • mother of pearl etched with the motif of a Native American riding a horse in color

The Piece: Handmade Bezel Set Belt Buckle

  • white brass buckle and findings
  • stainless steel bezel
  • approximate height: 3.25"
  • apprxoimate width: 5.75"
  • thickness: 12.52mm (including mother of pearl)
  • weight: 235.94 grams

Additional Notes: On August 9th, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented executive order 6814, calling for the seizure of all silver in the continental United States.  Jewelry artisans were heavily impacted during the era of this order, having to switch to less forgiving mediums and materials.

This particular Navajo turquoise buckle was handmade from white brass during the era.  It is unclear whether or not the mother of pearl etching orignally belonged to the piece, though the bezel made from stainless steel indicates that it could possibly have been a later addition (as opposed to a repair job).  Conservatively, we date the mother of pearl piece to the 1970's.

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About Turquoise

What once was regarded a common byproduct of copper mining is now realized to be a rather scarce gem. Typically found in or near copper mines around the world, turquoise from each locality differs in color, quality, character, and rarity. Certain mines are known for producing highly valuable material in very limited quantity. Inclusions of other copper-bearing minerals such as azurite, malachite, and chrysocolla are not uncommon.

Turquoise ranks 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Because this is often not suitable for everyday wear, most turquoise on the market is hardened (or "stabilized") with electricity and/or polymer. Stabilization is viewed as an accepted, regular practice in the lapidary industry and is not to be confused with "dying" material. Dyed (or artificially colored) material is not viewed as favorably among dealers and collectors.  It is very important to be careful when cleaning your turquoise jewelry. Turquoise is a porous stone that can absorb any harsh chemical used. Avoid putting your turquoise jewelry in chemical jewelry cleaners, and be sure to focus only on cleaning the metal around your stone.

Shipping, Handling, & Inventory

Your order will be processed and shipped within 4 business days. All shipments are insured by the United States Postal Service, and most orders of $500 or more will require signature confirmation upon delivery.

While we work hard to present our online customers with accurate inventory availability, we reserve the right to cancel and refund a sale if the item is sold somewhere else first.

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Item: Men's Turquoise Nugget Belt Buckle | White Brass | Antique c.1930's