Have you ever noticed that some jewelry asks you to look at it…
…and some jewelry teaches your eyes where to go?
This necklace does the second one.
Your eye lands on the silver stations.
Then it drifts into those long strands of Cerrillos turquoise.
Before you know it, you’ve followed the entire necklace without even realizing it.
That’s not an accident.
That’s composition.
Tony Aguilar didn’t just string together beautiful materials—he choreographed them. Every silver element creates a pause. Every bundle of turquoise starts the movement again. It’s almost musical.
The funny thing is, once you see the rhythm…
You can’t unsee it.
Why This Piece Matters
Tony Aguilar has built a reputation for creating jewelry that feels architectural without ever losing its Southwestern soul. His work is immediately recognizable because he thinks in terms of balance and movement rather than simply decoration.
This necklace is a perfect example.
Cerrillos turquoise is one of the oldest documented turquoise sources in North America, prized for centuries before many of the famous Nevada mines were ever discovered. Its distinctive green tones give this necklace an unmistakable presence while connecting it to one of the earliest chapters of Southwestern jewelry history.
But what elevates this piece is the construction.
Rather than allowing the turquoise to become one continuous mass of color, Aguilar interrupts the strands with substantial handcrafted silver forms that create rhythm, breathing room, and structure. The result is a necklace that feels sculptural from every angle.
It’s an artist understanding that sometimes the empty space between beautiful things is just as important as the beautiful things themselves.
Artifact Registry
Artifact: Green River
Maker: Tony Aguilar
Origin: Southwestern United States
Materials: Sterling Silver & Natural Cerrillos Turquoise
Length: 24 inches
Weight: 216 grams
Construction: Hand-fabricated sterling silver necklace featuring multiple strands of natural Cerrillos turquoise, handcrafted silver stations, repoussé turquoise set elements, handmade Navajo pearls, and traditional toggle closure.
Collector’s Gallery Value: $4750 - $5250
Estimated value for an equivalent Tony Aguilar necklace offered through a premier gallery specializing in Southwestern and Native American jewelry.
Curator’s Field Observation
The necklace succeeds because it carefully balances density with openness. The substantial silver stations compress and release the turquoise strands in measured intervals, creating a visual cadence that guides the eye naturally around the entire composition. The repoussé-set turquoise medallions echo the color of the beadwork while preventing the design from becoming visually repetitive.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
I think this is what happens when somebody knows exactly when to stop.
A lot of people would have added more silver.
Or more turquoise.
Or another focal point.
Tony didn’t.
He trusted the design.
That’s harder than it sounds.
The older I get, the more I appreciate artists who know when they’ve already made their point.
Green River - Tony Aquilar Cerillos Turquoise Necklace
Sterling Silver
Navajo Pearls
Compass Necklace
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Have you ever noticed that some jewelry asks you to look at it…
…and some jewelry teaches your eyes where to go?
This necklace does the second one.
Your eye lands on the silver stations.
Then it drifts into those long strands of Cerrillos turquoise.
Before you know it, you’ve followed the entire necklace without even realizing it.
That’s not an accident.
That’s composition.
Tony Aguilar didn’t just string together beautiful materials—he choreographed them. Every silver element creates a pause. Every bundle of turquoise starts the movement again. It’s almost musical.
The funny thing is, once you see the rhythm…
You can’t unsee it.
Why This Piece Matters
Tony Aguilar has built a reputation for creating jewelry that feels architectural without ever losing its Southwestern soul. His work is immediately recognizable because he thinks in terms of balance and movement rather than simply decoration.
This necklace is a perfect example.
Cerrillos turquoise is one of the oldest documented turquoise sources in North America, prized for centuries before many of the famous Nevada mines were ever discovered. Its distinctive green tones give this necklace an unmistakable presence while connecting it to one of the earliest chapters of Southwestern jewelry history.
But what elevates this piece is the construction.
Rather than allowing the turquoise to become one continuous mass of color, Aguilar interrupts the strands with substantial handcrafted silver forms that create rhythm, breathing room, and structure. The result is a necklace that feels sculptural from every angle.
It’s an artist understanding that sometimes the empty space between beautiful things is just as important as the beautiful things themselves.
Artifact Registry
Artifact: Green River
Maker: Tony Aguilar
Origin: Southwestern United States
Materials: Sterling Silver & Natural Cerrillos Turquoise
Length: 24 inches
Weight: 216 grams
Construction: Hand-fabricated sterling silver necklace featuring multiple strands of natural Cerrillos turquoise, handcrafted silver stations, repoussé turquoise set elements, handmade Navajo pearls, and traditional toggle closure.
Collector’s Gallery Value: $4750 - $5250
Estimated value for an equivalent Tony Aguilar necklace offered through a premier gallery specializing in Southwestern and Native American jewelry.
Curator’s Field Observation
The necklace succeeds because it carefully balances density with openness. The substantial silver stations compress and release the turquoise strands in measured intervals, creating a visual cadence that guides the eye naturally around the entire composition. The repoussé-set turquoise medallions echo the color of the beadwork while preventing the design from becoming visually repetitive.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
I think this is what happens when somebody knows exactly when to stop.
A lot of people would have added more silver.
Or more turquoise.
Or another focal point.
Tony didn’t.
He trusted the design.
That’s harder than it sounds.
The older I get, the more I appreciate artists who know when they’ve already made their point.
