Vintage Navajo Sterling Silver Melon Bead Necklace 22 48g Estate

  
Vintage Navajo Sterling Silver Melon Bead Necklace - 22 - 48 Grams - Unpolished Estate Find. This beautiful vintage necklace features a full strand of handmade sterling silver melon beads, attributed to Navajo silversmiths and likely dating to the 1970s or earlier.

Each fluted (ribbed) bead was individually crafted in the traditional Navajo "bench bead" style-lightly domed, center-seamed, and oxidized to accentuate its texture and depth. The necklace measures 22 inches long and weighs a substantial 48 grams, giving it an elegant, draped silhouette.

It is strung on its original wire and finished with classic handmade tapered silver cones and a hook-and-eye clasp, all of which show fine signs of age and authenticity. A single center naja-style loop bead adds subtle emphasis, suggesting it may have once been worn alone or paired with a pendant. This piece was acquired from a single-owner estate collection, where it was preserved for over 40 years in unworn, unpolished condition, retaining its desirable original vintage patina. Era: Vintage 1970s or earlier.

Material: Sterling silver (tested, unmarked). Bead Type: Fluted "melon" bench beads (handmade, seamless design). 7/16" wide by 1/8" thick. Finish: Unpolished with natural vintage patina. Clasp: Tapered sterling cones with hook-and-eye closure.

Signed: No (typical for this era of Navajo silverwork). Condition: Excellent vintage condition; stored and never worn. This is a classic Navajo silver bead necklace with timeless styling, perfect on its own or layered. A great piece for collectors or anyone who appreciates genuine Southwestern craftsmanship.

Keywords: Navajo silver necklace, vintage melon beads, Native American bench beads, fluted sterling beads, old pawn Navajo, Southwestern jewelry, unpolished patina, estate jewelry.