6 3/8" Charlie John Navajo sterling and turquoise cuff bracelet.
Charlie John is a Navajo overlay artist, born in Winslow, Arizona in 1954. He was raised and went to boarding school at his family’s home in Dilkon, AZ. His father’s uncle was William Singer who Charlie credits with teaching him silversmithing. He started doing his apprenticeship at age 14.
In 1972 William Singer started a shop near Charlie’s boarding school. Charlie both worked on jewelry and started selling it. Charlie says, in those days they would make a suitcase of jewelry and the buyers would purchase the suitcase and all of the jewelry at one time.
With decades of experience, Charlie John is a very talented silversmith who excels in making beautiful, traditional Navajo jewelry.
All precious metals are tested and guaranteed. A Native American jewelry piece referred to as "silver" or "ingot" is guaranteed to be at least 90% silver. I rarely use the word "sterling" when referring to older Native American silver or really any older silver jewelry as silver contents vary and "sterling" is 92.5% silver. No older jewelry is going to be exactly 92.5% silver, some a little over, some a little under. It wasn't an exact thing with handmade jewelry. I've seen thousands of pieces xrf'd to prove this. Bracelets are photographed on a 6" women's wrist.
