{"product_id":"blue-hour-vintage-sleeping-beauty-shadowbox-belt","title":"Blue Hour - Vintage Sleeping Beauty Shadowbox Belt","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI had to laugh when I laid this belt out.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery single concho is basically the same…\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e…and somehow I still looked at every one of them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI think that’s because your brain expects to find one that’s “the good one.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere isn’t one.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey’re \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eall\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the good one.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery turquoise is beautifully placed. Every concho catches the light just a little differently. Every shadowbox pulls your eye into that little flash of Sleeping Beauty blue sitting right in the middle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe funny thing is, there’s nothing complicated happening here.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo giant buckle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo oversized stones.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo crazy silverwork trying to show off.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s just someone who understood proportion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd honestly…that’s a lot harder than people think.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe more jewelry I handle, the more I appreciate artists who know when to stop. They didn’t keep adding things hoping it would become interesting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey already knew it was.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConcho belts have been part of Navajo silversmithing for generations, evolving from practical dress into some of the most recognizable forms in Southwestern jewelry. This example uses shadowbox construction to frame each Sleeping Beauty cabochon inside a recessed oxidized bezel, creating remarkable depth while letting the turquoise remain the focus. The result is elegant, timeless, and unmistakably Navajo.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact Registry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlue Hour\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaker:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vintage Navajo (Unsigned)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTribe:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Navajo (Diné)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mid-to-Late 20th Century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sterling Silver \u0026amp; Natural Sleeping Beauty Turquoise\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eForm:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Shadowbox Concho Belt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLength:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e40 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e176 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Hand-fabricated sterling silver concho belt featuring scalloped conchos with hand-stamped radiating decoration, shadowbox bezels, natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise cabochons, and handmade sterling connecting links.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Gallery Value:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$3,800–4,800\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEstimated value for an equivalent example offered through a premier gallery specializing in Native American jewelry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurator’s Field Observation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe success of this belt lies in its consistency. Each concho has been carefully proportioned so the eye moves naturally from one turquoise cabochon to the next, creating rhythm instead of repetition. The shadowbox settings add visual depth while the bright Sleeping Beauty turquoise provides striking contrast against the softly aged sterling. At 40 inches, it is substantial without feeling overpowering—a classic example of vintage Navajo design at its most refined.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEric’s Notes from the Field\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is exactly the kind of belt that sneaks up on you.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou don’t fall in love with one concho.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou fall in love with the fact that there isn’t a weak one in the bunch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s balanced.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s elegant.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd it has that wonderful confidence vintage Navajo jewelry so often has.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNothing here is asking for attention.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt simply earns it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47784996241585,"sku":null,"price":2895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0153\/9641\/files\/756D9CC4-13F9-4CBA-8AD9-3D07E04CA5EC.jpg?v=1785304693","url":"https:\/\/hespera.com\/products\/blue-hour-vintage-sleeping-beauty-shadowbox-belt","provider":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}