{"product_id":"the-candalaria-eye","title":"The Candalaria Eye","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOkay, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTHIS is why Candelaria has a following.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne enormous turquoise cabochon, almost the entire damn ring, with that electric saturated blue interrupted by a dark little burst of matrix right through the center. The stone isn’t merely sitting in the design—the whole piece appears to have been built around it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd then the silversmith did something smart: they didn’t bury it under decoration. A sweeping feather-like form wraps one side, deeply stamped botanical forms move around the other, twisted wire traces the stone, and oxidized negative space gives the turquoise somewhere to absolutely scream.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy This Piece Matters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCandelaria turquoise comes from Nevada’s Candelaria mining district and is particularly loved by collectors for its intense blue coloration and distinctive matrix.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis stone has the stuff people chase: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebig scale, extraordinary color and enough matrix to give it an identity without overwhelming the blue.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe silverwork matters too. Rather than relying on sheer weight, the maker created a large sculptural frame with deeply worked surfaces and strong asymmetry. It’s unmistakably handmade and wonderfully individual.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact Registry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact Name:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Candelaria Eye\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaker:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Signed “D”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e American Southwest\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Silver \u0026amp; Candelaria turquoise\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStone:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Large natural Candelaria turquoise cabochon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRing Size:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 6.5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 12 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEra:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vintage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Gallery Value:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$600–$750\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurator’s Field Observation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLook at where the stone sits.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s not perfectly centered inside some symmetrical silver border. The composition actually \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emoves around it\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. That enormous curved feather form rises along the left side while the stamped silver on the opposite edge pulls downward.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen right in the middle of all that brilliant blue is that concentrated black matrix inclusion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s the eye.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEric’s Notes from the Field\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI buy a lot of turquoise, so it takes something pretty specific to make me stop looking at the jewelry and just stare at the rock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is one of those rocks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwelve grams. Size 6.5. Signed simply \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and basically an enormous piece of Candelaria turquoise with just enough silver architecture around it to turn it into a ring.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhoever D was, they understood the assignment:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDon’t compete with the stone. Frame the damn thing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47824563437745,"sku":null,"price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0153\/9641\/files\/4A3AE4BD-5604-4DCA-BC95-761A14C20AC5.jpg?v=1786118560","url":"https:\/\/hespera.com\/products\/the-candalaria-eye","provider":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}