Turquoise, Coral, Melon and Heishi Shell Santo Domingo Necklace

Our Turquoise, Coral, Melon & Heishi Shell Santo Domingo Necklace is a graceful expression of Santo Domingo (Kewa) artistry, handcrafted exclusively for our collection by a talented female Santo Domingo artisan. Specially commissioned through her close friendship with Jean Marie, this necklace reflects years of collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to preserving traditional Native craftsmanship. Together, they created a design that is both refined and timeless, where delicate strands of turquoise are accented with vibrant touches of coral and finished with creamy melon shell heishi. The colors evoke the spirit of the Southwest, clear desert skies, warm sandstone cliffs, and the soft light that settles across the mesas at sunset, making this necklace a quiet yet unforgettable statement.

The Santo Domingo people have been celebrated for centuries as the original masters of heishi, one of the oldest jewelry-making traditions in North America. Every tiny shell bead is individually cut, drilled, shaped, and polished entirely by hand before being carefully strung into perfectly balanced strands. This necklace beautifully showcases that remarkable tradition with luminous turquoise, long treasured as a stone of protection, healing, and harmony, paired with vivid red coral, admired for generations as a symbol of vitality and life. At the neckline, natural melon shell heishi introduces soft ivory tones that provide an elegant contrast while highlighting the brilliant colors of the turquoise and coral.

Jean Marie has always believed that the most meaningful jewelry begins with genuine relationships. For decades, she has worked closely with Native artisans, returning time and again to collaborate on pieces that honor their traditions while celebrating their individual artistry. This necklace is the result of that enduring partnership, with every color placement and material thoughtfully chosen together to create a design that feels authentic, balanced, and effortlessly wearable.

More than a necklace, this is a story of heritage, friendship, and craftsmanship carried forward through generations. Commissioned exclusively for our collection, it celebrates the artistry of the Santo Domingo Pueblo through handcrafted heishi, vibrant turquoise, rich coral, and warm melon shell. Elegant in its simplicity and timeless in its design, it is a wearable heirloom that honors the hands that created it and the traditions that continue to inspire every carefully polished bead.

Number of Strands: 4

Length 17.5"

Made in New Mexico, USA