BIL 331 Purple spiny oyster shell ring- Large oval -Heavy silver

Traditional Navajo stamping surround the purple spiny oyster shell ring. The artist used very heavy gauge sterling silver to create this ring. The weight is part of its beauty as you can see and feel it when wearing it. The setting measures 2" x 1-3/8" with the shell measuring 1-1/2" x 3/4". Great detail was used in every aspect of this ring. This is a magnificent piece on Native American jewelry. NAVAJO HANDCRAFTED RING W/PURPLE SPINY OYSTER SHELL Spiny Oyster Shell Living Spondylus shells are, indeed, very spiny, but the polished product looks very smooth, with some of its color variation strongly resembling that of the Blood Oyster. The resemblance is strong enough that it’s important to ask, when purchasing these materials, if they’re from Blood Oyster or Spiny Oyster. Artists often use Spiny Oyster as a substitute for Blood Coral. Although not nearly as rare as the Blood Coral or Rose Coral, divers collect Spiny Oyster by hand, making the work laborious and relatively expensive, with some risks. The most commonly used Spondylid Bivalve shell colors include orange, reds, and purples and may include distinct striations and color variations. One also finds pink, red, brown, yellow, orange, and white on the market. The Yellow Spiny Oyster’s especially rare. In the American Oceans, the Spondylids occur along the North American coasts, as far north as North Carolina, on the Atlantic Coast, and northwestern Mexico, on the Pacific Coast. It develops in waters to South America. The Orange Spiny Oyster occurs in shallow to moderately deep waters, where snorkelers and scuba divers readily harvest them. Purple Spiny Oysters grow in deeper water, making them more difficult to find and harvest.