Please measure your wrist carefully- this is a large bracelet.
This heavy old sterling silver turquoise bracelet was created by the late Navajo silversmith, Kirk Smith. The bracelet has 22 genuine turquoise stones set high in straight bezels surrounded with silver raindrop beads. The cuff is deeply hand-stamped on both the inside and the outside. The turquoise stones are a mellow greenish turquoise color with tan & reddish brown matrix. Great patina!
The bracelet measures 1 inch wide and has an inside end-to-end measurement of 5-5/8 inches plus a non-adjustable opening gap of 1-3/8 inch. The bracelet weighs 131.8 grams. That's 4.65 ounces! The bracelet can not be adjusted. My wrist is 6 inches around and the bracelet is too big for me. (See last photo).
This is a pre-owned bracelet, with Kirk Smith's old hallmark KS on it. I'm told he used this hallmark in the 70's. He was using Kirk Smith in script at the time of his death. The bracelet is also stamped Sterling. The bracelet is in very good condition with the exception of a hairline crack in one of the turquoise stones (see white arrow). The bracelet needs a good polish but since most collector's prefer the old patina, so I will not polish it unless you want me to do that for you.
Kirk Smith's style combined the best of the genuine old pawn pieces - the careful craftsmanship, traditional design, and those old style solid stone settings. His work was distinctive, and many know when they see a Kirk Smith piece who the artist is without even having to look at the hallmark. .
Kirk came from a well known family of silversmiths and he began working with silver as a youngster at his grandfather's small workshop. He made jewelry off and on until 1980, when he resumed silversmithing full time, learning from and working with well-known artist and brother-in-law Harry Morgan. He became an acclaimed artist is his own right by consistently creating investment quality old pawn style jewelry. With heavy silver, detailed craftsmanship and beautiful stones, Smith's pieces won many awards throughout the years. At the time of his death, Kirk had definitely surpassed his mentor, the late Harry Morgan, to become one of the best smiths working in the classic revivalist Navajo tradition.
Kirk Smith died tragically on Monday, September 17, 2012. He will be deeply missed not only by his friends and family but also by Native American Indian jewelry collectors and traders everywhere.
At the time of his death, Kirk had arguably replaced his mentor and brother-in-law, the late Harry Morgan, as the reigning practitioner of classic revivalist Navajo design. Kirk Smith's work is considered collector and investment quality. With the recent price increases in both turquoise and sterling silver in the last few years, Kirk's beautiful pieces are an excellent investment not only in terms of their high quality turquoise and precious metal but because of the acclaimed artist who created them. Don't miss your chance to add this fine Kirk Smith bracelet to your Native American Indian jewelry collection.