ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Born, raised & presently residing on the Navajo reservation in the town of To’hajiilee,(Toe-hah-jah-lee) NM, Navajo artisan Dakota Willie was born to make jewelry. And when you got the last name "Willie" & your father is RONNIE WILLIE, there's no way you can escape the art of creating jewelry, because just about everyone in the family makes jewelry & all have made a name for themselves in the industry & are known worldwide. (See my Ronnie Willie, Tawny Willie (Cruz), Cooper Willie,Shaminika Willie & Rudy Willie listings who are just a few of Dakotas cousins & the latter being his uncle.)

Dakota learned like many Navajo children learn & whether it's the parents, the uncles, aunts or grandparents, in Dakota's case it was his father Ronnie Willie (See my listings) & his mother who took Dakota under their wing when he was only 8 years old & has now been making jewelry for 23 years.

Dakota is an "Artist" & not just in jewelry design, he also spends his time as a clothing fashion designer, loves to paint & loves doing anything that's artistic & creative..He specializes in traditional Navajo jewelry & many are made with a contemporary edginess..
********************
THE CUFF:
One thing you can automatically see in this cuff is the love & the creative artistry that was poured into making it!

Designed in a wide setting on one solid sheet of sterling,Dakota made this in a tiered type design, where there are 6 different horizontal patterns happening within one piece, which it makes for an interesting design!

This was done using repousse techniques, as well as intricate stamp work from end to end. It has a contemporary edge being it has a mirror polished finishing & then was left oxidized in all the crevices to accentuate all the incredible deep stamping! This cuff displays just how skilled Dakota is as an artist..

It's made with a 16 gauge sterling so it's durable, but not heavy, heavy like some Navajo cuffs.. It's made for a larger wrist size that either man or woman can wear (7-1/4") & because of it's 1.25" gap opening, this will accommodate a more 'fleshy' wrist that needs a wider gap. If you're not sure of what wrist size you have,I suggest you click on How To Fit A Cuff all the way to the bottom, as well as copy/pasting this You Tube video,(below) which also gives some valuable info!

https://youtu.be/bU6QwykAo7w

This isn't your everyday sterling cuff that you find in every store,nor throughout the internet,but rather a cuff that is a "one of a kind-artisan made" piece that stands appreciation for the skill & design behind it.