Raymond Yazzie · Navajo
Multi-Stone Inlay Cuff Bracelet
This Raymond Yazzie inlay bracelet sets a bold panel of coral, turquoise, lapis, sugilite, and opal at the center of a handmade sterling silver cuff. Raymond Yazzie divided the stones with fine lines of gold, so each color sits in its own crisp channel. From the center, deep oxidized lines radiate across the silver like rays of light. On the sides, he added three triangular stones and an opal as accents.
Metal — Sterling silver with fine line gold accents
Stones — Coral, turquoise, lapis, sugilite, and opal
Design — Center inlay panel; three triangular stones and an opal on the sides
Size — 5¼, with a 1⅛ in. opening
Width — ⅞ in., tapering to ½ in.
A Raymond Yazzie Inlay Bracelet in Sterling Silver
Raymond is known for precise stonework, and this piece shows why. First, each stone is cut to fit tightly against its neighbors, with no gaps between them. Then thin gold lines separate the colors, adding warmth and definition. As a result, the deep red coral, blue turquoise and lapis, purple sugilite, and bright opal read clearly from across the room.
The silverwork balances the color. For example, the radiating lines draw the eye toward the center panel, while the smooth inner band keeps the cuff comfortable. Meanwhile, the side accents carry the stones around the wrist, so the bracelet looks finished from every angle. The cuff is a size 5¼ with a 1⅛ in. opening, and it tapers from ⅞ in. at the center to ½ in. at the ends.
About Raymond Yazzie
Raymond Yazzie is a Navajo jeweler born in 1959 in Vanderwagen, New Mexico. He grew up in a family of silversmiths and apprenticed with his older brother, Lee Yazzie, who taught him precision stonework. His work has been shown at the Heard Museum and the Museum of Northern Arizona. In addition, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian featured Raymond and Lee in “Glittering World: Navajo Jewelry of the Yazzie Family” in New York. Today, a Raymond Yazzie inlay bracelet like this one shows the precision that made the family’s work famous.
