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Navajo Traditional Teachings

Turquoise Baby Olive Shell Choker

Turquoise Baby Olive Shell Choker

Regular price $149.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $149.99 USD
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Some jewelry doesn't need bold colors or elaborate designs to make an impression. This handcrafted choker by Navajo artist Darlene Huskie showcases the quiet beauty of turquoise, allowing every stone to take center stage. Baby olive shell spacers provide subtle texture and warmth while creating a balanced design that highlights the natural character of each turquoise bead. With its calming blue-green tones and varied matrix patterns, every necklace is truly one of a kind.

Its simple, versatile design makes it an effortless addition to any jewelry collection. Whether worn with a casual tee and jeans or layered with your favorite Southwestern pieces, this choker brings natural color and timeless style without ever feeling overdone. The earthy palette makes it easy to wear year-round, becoming one of those pieces you'll find yourself reaching for again and again.

Turquoise has remained one of the most recognizable materials in Navajo jewelry for generations, admired for its natural beauty and distinctive character. Paired with baby olive shell, the necklace offers an organic look that reflects the colors and textures found throughout the Southwest. Together, these natural materials create a piece that feels classic, authentic, and enduring.

Each necklace is individually crafted by Navajo artist Darlene Huskie, who has spent nearly 30 years creating traditional jewelry after learning the craft through her husband's family. Every stone is thoughtfully arranged to showcase its own unique color, shape, and matrix, resulting in a necklace that is as individual as the person who wears it.

Because authenticity matters, every turquoise piece from Navajo Traditional Teachings includes a Certificate of Authenticity. In a marketplace filled with imported imitations and misleading claims, you can wear your jewelry with confidence, knowing exactly who created it and where it came from.

Because authenticity matters, every turquoise piece from Navajo Traditional Teachings includes a Certificate of Authenticity. In a marketplace filled with imported imitations and misleading claims, you can wear your jewelry with confidence, knowing exactly who created it and where it came from.

A Darlene Huskie Original

Materials: Turquoise, Baby Olive Shell, Sterling Silver

Length: 18"

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Meet The Artist

Meet Darlene... Navajo Jewelry Artist

Darlene Huskie is a Navajo jewelry artist with nearly three decades of experience creating hand-strung turquoise necklaces and traditional Diné adornment. Taught within her husband’s family, she carries forward a lineage of beadwork that blends patience, precision, and cultural memory.

Working with turquoise, sterling silver, shell, and glass beads, Darlene carefully selects and arranges each element by hand, allowing color, balance, and natural beauty to guide every design. Her pieces are not mass-produced — each necklace is individually made, reflecting the quiet skill and steady hands of an artist who has spent a lifetime perfecting her craft.

Darlene is of the Nakai Diné Clan, and her work reflects the enduring Navajo tradition of jewelry as both personal adornment and cultural expression.

Authentic Turquoise

With only 5 active turquoise mines left in the U.S.—led by the iconic Kingman Mine—much of today’s turquoise comes from past sources. Check the map… your piece may be rarer than you think.

Turquoise Map
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How We Test Turquoise

Testing is a skill. Some pieces of turquoise you can tell right when you pick them up. Others require a more scientific approach. Click here to See The 4 Ways To Test Turquoise:

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