Rare King Manassa Turquoise Drum Cut Heishi Necklace Santo Domingo

This Rare King Manassa Turquoise Drum Cut Heishi Necklace from Santo Domingo Pueblo is a breathtaking work of art, meticulously handcrafted by a master female artisan whose jewelry has been featured at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in New York. She creates these pieces exclusively for us, cutting, polishing, and shaping every single bead which vary from 3-8mm, entirely by hand. Each necklace carries not only her artistry but also the spirit of her mother and grandmother, whose traditions she continues while teaching her daughter to carry this legacy forward. To wear this piece is to hold generations of love, resilience, and devotion close to your heart.

The turquoise used here comes from the historic King Manassa Mine in Colorado, one of the oldest and most celebrated sources of turquoise in North America. Renowned for its rich range of earthy greens and golden-brown matrix, King Manassa turquoise is exceptionally rare today, as the mine has long been closed. Among Native peoples, turquoise has always been regarded as a sacred stone, a source of protection, balance, and spiritual connection between the sky and the earth.

What makes this necklace extraordinary is the artisan’s choice of drum-cut heishi beads, one of the most difficult shapes to master. Each bead is painstakingly carved into perfectly balanced cylindrical forms, requiring remarkable precision and patience to achieve uniformity and smoothness throughout the strand. The result is a fluid composition of turquoise that drapes elegantly, showcasing not only the beauty of the stone but also the extraordinary craftsmanship that defines Santo Domingo jewelry-making traditions.

More than adornment, this necklace is a living heirloom, a one-of-a-kind treasure that unites rare turquoise, cultural meaning, and generations of skill. Whether worn as a bold centerpiece or as a subtle statement of heritage, the King Manassa Turquoise Heishi Necklace embodies strength, spirit, and artistry, connecting the wearer to centuries of tradition and the enduring beauty of the earth.

Necklace Length: 28" end to end 

Number of Strands: 3

Made in USA