Channel Inlay Turquoise Ring

This exquisite ring by Dan Simplicio is made of sterling silver with a split shank ending with two of his signature "raindrops" on either side of an oval. This center piece has been divided, with alternating curved and straight silver strips, creating six channeled forms. These have each been set with a specially cut high grade, natural, blue turquoise stone. The variation in the blue is called "bird's eye" because there are lighter islands in a dark sea. The overall hue is intense. Just shy of a size 7 1/2, this beauty will reward any hand that is lucky enough to wear it!

A Zuni jeweler who sometimes collaborated with Leekya Deyse, Lee Edaakie, Teddie Weahkee and Leo Poblano, Dan Simplicio was most active creating metal art between the 1920's through the late 1950's. Simplicio utilized gold as early as 1931, which may make him one of the first Zuni jewelers to work in gold.

He produced both fabricated and sandcast jewelry. Dan employed setting techniques to include nuggets, cluster formats, mosaic work and channel inlay. His uncle, Juan Dideos is acknowledged as Dan's main instructor.

His work is cited in every major publication chronicling 20th century Zuni jewelers. Dan's jewelry was included in the 2002 exhibition staged at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe "Jewels of the Southwest".