THE 'ALDRICH'S"
If you've ever shopped at the more 'higher end' southwest stores,you may know the work of the 'Aldrich's".. The Aldrich's consist of husband & wife duo"Valerie & Benny" & are based out of Durango Co. Their work is highly identifiable & if you can appreciate what artists go through,not only with time spent creating,but working & inlaying the tiniest stones possible,then you can't help but appreciate & love this duo's jewelry! The only other work that can be close,when it comes to meticulous workmanship,as well as working with the smallest of stones,is the work of the Zuni Pueblo people.. Their jewelry is 'pure art'!

Their early pieces consisted of shell inlays and the occasional concho belt. To augment their income, the couple sold pipestone and serpentine from local Arizona quarries to Santo Domingo, a New Mexico pueblo famous for its bead makers. When asked what their raw materials would look like as beads, the Aldrich’s began to drill and ground beads from the rough stone they sold.

The Aldrich’s were among the first artisans to use gemstones and spiny oyster for inlay, using only the best natural gemstones and other traditional materials. They are known for pairing stones known to the SW, like turquoise,spiny oyster,coral,but with added semi precious & precious stones together..They have a style that is ONLY unique to them & have a very identifiable look & once you become familiar with their work,you will spot it everytime thereafter. They cut each & every,everything by hand & are extremely skilled at what they do.. The jewelry they create,is flawless & very upscale & because of the gem quality materials used & the time it takes,their jewelry brings in top dollar no matter where it is sold.
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THE RING:
Designed in a HEART setting is the most incredible mosaic inlay workmanship you'll ever see!! The color theme is orange & purple, that come from the orange Spiny Oyster base & inside the heart is a diamond shape with literally 'slivers' of tiny cuts of Sugilite that acts as the frame for the top notch Australian opal & then inside the Opal is even TINIER cuts of the purple Sugilite & even smaller Spiny Oyster cuts & then a square cut of green turquoise for the center.This inlaid art sits in a serrated bezel that have perfect teeth without any damaged! Beading then surrounds this section. On the sides are trillion cuts of Sugilite.
This is made with a fancy shank thats very decorative!(see photo)

In the last 2 photos is another ring(listed) & a heart necklace by the Aldrich's in stock

***Because of close up photos,these stones look larger than they are, but in all actuality, they are tiny,tiny,tiny slivers of hand cut stone & shell!!!And when you get this in hand,you will ask yourself "How in the world did they cut these stones SO small"????!!!(Especially in the center square design!) This alone will make you appreciate the work they do!

***Besides their upscale name recognition, their prices are based on not the weight nor the size, but all the time that is spent to create these works of wearable art!***