{"product_id":"river-of-pharaohs-egyptian-turquoise-ring-by-ronald-tom","title":"River of Pharaohs - Egyptian Turquoise Ring by Ronald Tom","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRiver of the Pharaohs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI’ll let you in on a little secret.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhenever an artist tells me, “Send me the stones and let me play with them,” I get excited.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNot because I know what I’m going to get.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause I don’t.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s the whole point.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen Ronald agreed to make pieces exclusively for Hespera, we weren’t trying to recreate something he’d already made. We wanted to hand him exceptional turquoise and see where \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e imagination went.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese three Egyptian stones arrived on his bench as individuals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey came back as a single story.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s one of my favorite things about working directly with artists. You stop buying jewelry and start collecting conversations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy This Piece Matters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis pendant represents exactly what Hespera hopes to preserve through its collaborations with living artists.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than commissioning reproductions of successful designs, Ronald Tom was given remarkable Egyptian turquoise and the freedom to compose something entirely new. The result is a one-of-one pendant that balances sculptural silverwork with three extraordinary cabochons whose color and matrix create a natural visual progression.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pendant is unmistakably Ronald Tom—not because it repeats an earlier design, but because it reflects the design instincts that have made his work so respected among collectors.\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\u003eMaker:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ronald Tom\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Navajo Nation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sterling Silver \u0026amp; Natural Egyptian Turquoise\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 32 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdjustable\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eForm:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Statement Pendant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCommission:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Custom made exclusively for Hespera\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEra:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Contemporary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Gallery Value:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$1,800–$2,300\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\u003eEgyptian turquoise possesses a personality unlike almost any American turquoise. The vivid robin’s-egg blues often flow through rich iron matrix that ranges from burnt sienna to deep chocolate, producing dramatic natural contrast.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRonald leaned into that character instead of trying to homogenize it. Each cabochon is intentionally different. The upper stone displays intricate webbing, the center stone offers bold islands of blue within warm matrix, and the lower stone blooms into an almost painterly network of color.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInstead of competing, they create movement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe silver architecture reinforces that rhythm. Deep oxidized scrolls frame each stone while hand-placed silver drops soften the transitions between them. Every decorative element serves the composition rather than distracting from it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEven the generously sized engraved bail feels like part of the sculpture instead of an attachment.\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 why I love commissioning jewelry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf I wanted another Ronald Tom pendant, I could go find one.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat I wanted was to see what Ronald would create \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003efor us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s a completely different experience.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWatching artists interpret stones is one of my favorite parts of this business. The same three cabochons could have gone to ten different silversmiths and come back as ten completely different pendants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is Ronald’s answer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd I love that when I look at it, I don’t just see beautiful turquoise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI remember the conversation that started it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47815948370097,"sku":null,"price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0153\/9641\/files\/River_of_Pharaohs_-_Egyptian_Turquoise_Ring_by_Ronald_Tom.webp?v=1785865004","url":"https:\/\/hespera.com\/products\/river-of-pharaohs-egyptian-turquoise-ring-by-ronald-tom","provider":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}