Large purple spiny oyster shell ring- Navajo-sterling silver-BIL 332

This large Navajo ring is set in solid sterling silver. The main setting measures approximately 2" x 1-3/8" with the purple spiny oyster shell measuring 1-1/2" x 3/4". The shell is held in place with a hand cut bezel that has been wrapped around. This type of hand cut detail bezel is very rare and a true sign of the artists experience. Heavy silver was also used by the artist which continues the with the theme of being a unique piece of Native American jewelry. Easily sized to fit almost any finger, please specify your size when ordering. Sizing is alwasys free. Navajo handcrafted ring with 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.