Turquoise Chip Necklace Value Guide

This 1970s Turquoise Chip Necklace represents a pivotal era in American Southwest jewelry where the organic, raw beauty of the stone was celebrated through long, hand-strung strands. These pieces are highly collectible for their connection to Navajo and Pueblo aesthetic traditions and their role in the 1970s bohemian fashion movement.

What Is Turquoise Chip Necklace Worth?

The typical price range for Turquoise Chip Necklace is $75 - $85 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Overall length of the strand, with longer necklaces generally commanding the higher end of the $75-$85 range.
• The vibrancy and saturation of the blue-green hues within the turquoise chips.
• The structural integrity of the string and the security of the closure or knotting.
• The presence of a natural matrix, which can add character and value to the individual stones.

How to Identify Turquoise Chip Necklace?

• Examine the stones for the characteristic irregular 'chip' shape rather than uniform machine-cut beads.
• Verify the 1970s era construction by checking for traditional stringing materials rather than modern plastic-coated wire.
• Look for natural matrix patterns and color variations ranging from sky blue to deep green across the individual chips.
• Confirm the origin as United States Southwest by the specific density and texture of the turquoise used.

History of Turquoise Chip Necklace

Turquoise has been prized by cultures around the world for thousands of years, from ancient Egyptians to Native American tribes. Its striking blue-green hues made it a symbol of protection, wisdom, and good fortune. In the American Southwest, particularly among Navajo and Pueblo peoples, turquoise has been used in jewelry for centuries, often set in silver. Chip necklaces, featuring small, irregular pieces of the stone strung together, became popular for their natural, organic aesthetic, reflecting a connection to the earth and its raw beauty.