Though highly skilled and artistically gifted as a silversmith, Fred Charley prefers to make his living as a mechanic. Tearing down and re-building an engine is what he most likes to do. So we feel pretty lucky that we can get his silversmithing work from time to time. Fred's wife, Rena, is the sister of Navajo silversmith Benny Ration.

This ring is set with a blue-green stone of natural, untreated Fox turquoise from Nevada. This is a blue-green shade that we've only seen come from the Fox Mine in the U.S. The stone is set in a straight-edged bezel wrapped with twist wire. The border of the ring face is sculpted and shows beautiful saw and file work. The shank is made from heavy-gauge Sterling and shows deep, traditional stampwork on its tapered sides.

Hallmarked "F. Charley" and stamped "Sterling" inside behind the stone set.

Stone: 13/16" x 5/8"; 14.5 carats

Ring face: 1 1/8" x 7/8"

Width of shank in back: 1/4"

Size: 8 1/2