18" Navajo Sterling Silver Benchmade Bead Necklace

The Navajo Indians are masters of sterling silver bead making. Sterling silver benchmade beads are made one at a time and are very labor intensive. Each bead starts as a disk of sterling silver which the silversmith shapes into one half of a bead and solders to another half. Many more steps of filing, cleaning and polishing follow until a beautiful strand of beads has been created. Oxidized for an antique look. Handmade in New Mexico.