Campitos Turquoisoe and Spiny Oyster Cluster Earrings

• Turquoise: Campitos 
• Spiny Oyster
• Sterling Silver
• Artist: E. Wylie 
• 1.25" x 1"
• Hallmark stamped
• SW-125-E

Seen frequently throughout Native American jewelry, Sterling Silver "raindrops" are a traditional design element. They can be smooth and high polished or they can be star-like and oxidized.

Twisted wire metalworking is a very old technique used by many Southwestern tribes. It can be found in both vintage and modern pieces.

Campitos is derived from the Spanish word "campo" meaning "field" or"countryside". Mined in Mexico from the Pino Chueco and Cananea mines in Sonora, Campitos is a favorite for jewelry artisans. Campitos is uniquein several ways. It grows in clay as free-form nuggets, rather than inveins which is typical of many North American turquoises. Its color closely resembles that of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise and ranges from alight to medium blue with no matrix. Occasionally you may find pyrite inclusions, which give it a little bit of sparkle.

Spiny Oyster shell is often inlaid or used as cabochons and the color combination of Spiny Oyster and turquoise is as old as the human love for adornment. Coming all the way from the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, Spiny Oyster shell is most commonly seen in orange, red and purple.