Golden Hills Turquoise Ring in Sterling Silver, Size 7

A Golden Hills turquoise ring in sterling silver, size 7. A 10 carat oval cabochon in pale powder blue, threaded with fine brown matrix, bezel set in silver. One of a kind, cut and set at Cutting Edge Turquoise.

Golden Hills is the soft one. It comes out of Kazakhstan rather than the American Southwest, and it is prized for a color almost nothing else produces: a pale, chalky, lavender-leaning blue that looks nothing like the deep Nevada blues. The matrix in it runs fine and chocolate brown, more like a drawing than a fracture. Collectors go looking for this material specifically because it is the quietest turquoise on the market and still unmistakably turquoise.

That pale color is what makes it wearable in places a strong blue is not. It sits well against neutrals, works year round rather than reading seasonal, and does not fight with other jewelry. It is bold enough to notice and soft enough for everyday wear, so it can be the ring you reach for daily.

A good gift for someone who says turquoise is too loud for her, because this is the answer to that objection.

Every Golden Hills cabochon is cut and backed at Cutting Edge Turquoise before it goes into a setting. Backing matters more with softer material like this, and it is why the stone can be worn rather than shelved.

Details

• Ring size: 7
• Stone: Genuine Golden Hills turquoise, natural brown matrix
• Stone size: 10 carats
• Stone shape: Oval cabochon
• Metal: Sterling silver, .925
• Setting: Bezel
• Makers: Joyce Benavidez and Jill Monfiletto, Cutting Edge Turquoise
• Stone cut and backed by: Cutting Edge Turquoise
• Type: One-of-a-kind, only one available

Who made it
Joyce Benavidez and Jill Monfiletto built this ring at Cutting Edge Turquoise, our family turquoise and lapidary business, around a stone cut in their own shop. This is handmade artisan jewelry, built start to finish by the same hands. That is not how most turquoise jewelry gets made. Usually the rough passes from a dealer to a cutter to a silversmith to a gallery, and nobody along that chain has seen both ends of it. Here the same hands chose the rough, cut the cabochon, and set it in silver.

Will it fit you
This ring exists in one size only: 7. There is no second one in another size, because there is no second stone. If you are unsure of your size or you are between sizes, message me before you order and I will help you work it out.

How to wear it
The oval Golden Hills turquoise cabochon has enough presence to be the one ring you wear and still feels gentle enough for everyday wear. It pairs easily with other silver pieces and sits comfortably in a stack or on its own as a single focal point.

Care: Wipe with a soft cloth. Remove before washing hands or applying lotion. Store dry.

Handcrafted in the American Southwest. Ships from Santa Fe within 2 to 3 business days.

Learn more. Read more about Golden Hills turquoise and why its color is so unusual, browse the Turquoise Buying Guide, or check the Turquoise Glossary for terms that come up when you shop rare stones.