Gary Glandon Sonoran Gold Turquoise Sunray Cuff Bracelet

Hammer-Stamped Silver Framing Blue-Green Mexican Turquoise

Gary Glandon handmade this cuff bracelet around a large, elongated Sonoran Gold turquoise stone. Its color moves from bright turquoise blue into shades of mossy and lime green, with areas of cream, tan, and earthy matrix running throughout. The changes in color make the stone interesting from every angle and are part of what distinguishes Sonoran Gold from more evenly colored turquoise.

Sonoran Gold turquoise comes from near Cananea in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, just south of Arizona. It is commonly found as individual nuggets in clay rather than in the veins associated with many other turquoise deposits. The material is especially known for combining blue and green within a single stone, often accompanied by cream, tan, or golden-brown matrix.

The sterling silver setting was built to follow the shape of this particular stone. Gary created the surrounding sunray pieces one at a time, using a hammer and stamp to form the radiating design. He then cut out each piece and soldered it individually around the bezel. The process takes considerable time, but it gives the bracelet a layered shape and allows every section of the silverwork to contribute to the finished design.

Darkened areas bring out the stamped lines, while the polished high points catch the light. The precise geometric silverwork provides a strong contrast with the varied color and irregular pattern of the turquoise.

Gary made this bracelet in the jewelry workshop at Stagecoach, where he has been creating turquoise and sterling silver jewelry for more than 30 years.

When looking at this cuff bracelet from the side the widest portion of the cuff's diameter is 2.25". It has an opening of 1.125". The top of the bracelet with the turquoise stone measures 2" x 1.25".

Details

• Artist: Gary Glandon

• Stone: Sonoran Gold turquoise

• Origin: Sonora, Mexico

• Color: Turquoise blue, green, cream, and tan

• Metal: Sterling silver

• Stone shape: Elongated free-form oval

• Setting: Sterling silver bezel

• Design: Geometric sunray frame

• Each sunray element was hammer-stamped, cut, and soldered individually

• Darkened details with polished silver accents

• Handmade in the Stagecoach jewelry workshop