Navajo cuff and help with stones

[silverdollarbill]

I picked this cuff up today. It is unmarked but tests as silver and has a green stone in the center. From here, I know it is Navajo. Anyone have an idea on the stone?

Also, I am at the point that I need to learn rocks. Anyone have a recommendation on how to learn stones. Maybe a reference book or a site?

 

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[austin]

Stone could be fake, jade, malachite, or a couple of other things. Need more light to ID. What makes you think it's Navaho?

 

[diggummup]

It could be turquoise also, it does come in green too. Photo taken in natural light would help. Your piece is often referred to as a "Fred Harvey Era" Navajo thunderbird bracelet. Here is more on him and the term- https://nativeamericanjewelrytips.wordpress.com/category/books/fred-harvey-jewelry-1900-1955/

I just found this site and haven't researched it yet, but from first glance it looks promising- YourGemologist On-line Study of Gemology, Jewelry and Gemstones

 

[Metro Retro]

I agree with Diggummup -- it's a Fred Harvey piece, so you may not want to specifically call it Navajo. It's hard to tell from the pic what the stone is, but if I had to guess, possibly stabilized turquoise or a glass cab.

 

[tamrock]

I've seen this green stone in Fred Harvey stuff era very often and I believe as mentioned it is a treated natural malachite, but is a classified grade of turquoise. Maybe comes from Kingman AZ ? I've found a few FH cookie cut pieces here and there to sell and they do have a good following of active buying collectors. Vintage Fred Harvey Era Navajo TURQUOISE Thunderbird Sterling Silver Bracelet They were "kind of" mass produced for tourist and use many of the traditional Navajo symbols. They seem to be never marked with makers & silver grades and priced pretty good in thrift store and flea markets from time to time, because they look cheap to the untrained eye, but they are definitely a good treasure to score. I don't see them very often, so they are somewhat rare to come by for a good price. I have this FH ring I picked up in trade at the coin shop I deal with. It was valued at 6 bucks in the deal. It is silver, but has no markings. The coin guy bought it as scrap silver and I could tell he didn't think much of it, as it looks cheaply made in his eye and I have no interest in educating this dude on all the jewelry he has and that's benefited me very well.

 

[JimDon]

Interesting. I just sold this yesterday on eBay.

 

[silverdollarbill]

Thanks for all the info. Here is a pic in natural light.

 

[silverdollarbill]

Pic