Vintage Charlie Bowie Navajo Sterling Silver Created Opal Inlay Pendant Southwestern 1 3/4 Inch

Description

Vintage Navajo sterling silver pendant by Charlie Bowie featuring vibrant created opal channel inlay and measuring 1 3/4 inches in total length.

Quick Specifications:

- Primary Material: Solid Sterling Silver (.925)

- Dimensions: 1 3/4 inches long (with bail) x 7/16 inches wide

- Primary Element: Lab-Created Opal Channel Inlay

- Maker Hallmark: Arc over CB STERLING © (Charlie Bowie, Navajo)

- Weight: 7.0 grams

- Condition Grade: Very Good Vintage Condition

Handcrafted by recognized Navajo silversmith Charlie Bowie, this pendant showcases precision lapidary work in channel-set lab-created fire opal. The inlay displays vivid electric greens, cerulean blues, and flashes of golden orange, arranged in an asymmetric geometric pattern across the tapered, leaf-form drop and continuing across the front of the articulated bail.

Beginning in the late 20th century, Southwestern Native American jewelers integrated laboratory-grown fire opal for its exceptional stability and vivid color play in channel inlay jewelry. This piece is constructed with a heavy-gauge sterling silver backplate and substantial vertical bezel walls, giving it a solid, dimensional profile. The reverse is deeply stamped with Charlie Bowie's signature hallmark—an arched curve above the initials CB—along with STERLING and the copyright insignia. A natural, soft oxidation remains along the silver surfaces, confirming authentic age and workshop craftsmanship. This is a single, authentic vintage piece of fixed dimensions.

1 3/4 in length with bail · 7/16 in maximum width · 7.0 g · Stamped CB STERLING © · Articulated bail

Vintage Condition & Care: All items listed are previously owned and used unless otherwise stated. Please expect signs of wear such as scuffs, blemishes, or imperfections. Most pieces are gently cleaned with a jeweler's cloth or warm soapy water. Native American pieces are left unpolished to preserve the natural patina often desired by collectors.