Unique Melon Shell and Turquoise Heishi Necklace Santo Domingo

Our Unique Melon Shell and Turquoise Heishi Necklace Santo Domingo is a masterpiece of harmony between land and sea, a work of art meticulously handcrafted by our renowned Santo Domingo Pueblo (Kewa Pueblo) artist, whose museum-quality creations have been showcased at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. Made exclusively for Pax Philomena, this necklace represents the extraordinary precision, patience, and cultural continuity that define traditional Santo Domingo jewelry-making.

Each delicate bead is hand-cut, shaped, and polished with incredible care from natural melon shell, a material prized for its luminous cream and blush tones. The soft, organic hue of the shell evokes the glow of desert sands and sunlight on ocean waves. Interspersed throughout are accents of natural turquoise, whose tranquil blue-green tones add depth and contrast, symbolizing water and sky, the sacred balance between the earth’s elements.

The Heishi  necklace is among the oldest jewelry-making traditions in North America, with roots stretching back over a thousand years. Achieving the uniform roundness of these tiny shell beads requires extraordinary skill and patience, as each one is individually hand-shaped using traditional tools and techniques. The result is a necklace that feels fluid and alive, smooth to the touch, perfectly weighted, and imbued with the spirit of its maker.

For the Santo Domingo artisans, materials like shell and turquoise are not chosen for beauty alone; they carry deep symbolic meaning. The melon shell represents the gifts of the ocean, while turquoise has long been revered as a stone of protection, healing, and harmony. Together, they create a dialogue between nature’s realms, sea and stone, softness and strength.

Jean Marie was immediately captivated by the understated elegance of this necklace,  its serene colors, organic texture, and timeless craftsmanship. It embodies the soul of the Southwest: grounded, spiritual, and effortlessly beautiful.

Our Unique Melon Shell and Turquoise Heishi Necklace Santo Domingo is more than adornment; it’s a story told through the hands of a master artisan. A true collectible, it connects past and present, nature and art, culture and heart, a treasure to wear, cherish, and pass down for generations.

Length: 18.5"

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g

Made in USA