Navajo Yei Be Chei Silver and Royston Turquoise Pendant Necklace

Our Navajo Yei Be Chei Silver and Royston Turquoise Pendant Necklace is an extraordinary expression of Native American artistry, combining meaningful cultural imagery with the remarkable beauty of Royston turquoise. Personally commissioned by Pax Philomena founder Jean Marie from a skilled Navajo artisan, the necklace features a striking, elongated silver pendant with two beautifully contrasting turquoise stones. Shades of aqua, sage green, golden ochre, and rich chocolate-brown matrix create an almost painterly composition against the deeply textured silver. Its sculptural silhouette feels both ancient and unexpectedly contemporary.

The Yei Be Chei imagery draws upon an important aspect of Diné (Navajo) ceremonial tradition. Yei are associated with the Holy People, while Yei Bi Chei also refers to masked ceremonial dancers who personify sacred beings during the Nightway, a traditional healing ceremony concerned with restoring harmony and well-being. These traditions carry profound cultural significance, and their representation in jewelry connects artistic expression with a much larger living heritage. Rather than assigning a fixed meaning to every decorative element, this pendant honors the imagery's cultural origins.

The turquoise comes from the Royston mining district near Tonopah, Nevada, celebrated for its extraordinary range of blue and green stones interwoven with earthy golden-brown matrix. Although mining continues in parts of the district, exceptional stones displaying such distinctive combinations of color and matrix cannot simply be obtained on demand. Each cabochon must be carefully cut, shaped, smoothed, and polished to reveal its individual character. The artisan complements them with meticulously worked silver, contrasting darkened, textured surfaces with polished settings and geometric details. Every element contributes to the pendant's remarkable individuality.

For Jean Marie, this piece carries a particularly personal connection. Her love of Native American jewelry began during childhood visits to the Pueblos and reservations of New Mexico with her mother, Philomena, who taught her to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of Native American art. That early fascination eventually grew into lasting relationships with artisans throughout the Southwest. Working directly with the Navajo artist to commission this singular creation was another expression of that lifelong appreciation. Worn against a simple silk tunic, white shirt, or flowing Pax Philomena kaftan, the pendant becomes wearable sculpture—a one-of-a-kind piece that brings together cultural heritage, exceptional materials, and the individuality of the artist who made it.