Lost Survey
Somewhere between the mine and the trading post, this relic found its way into the world.
The artist’s name may have faded into history, but their eye for turquoise certainly didn’t.
The moment I saw this bolo, I stopped looking at the silver and got completely lost inside the stone. Rivers of impossible blue wind through warm copper earth, creating the kind of natural landscape that only Royston Ribbon turquoise can produce. It’s less like a gemstone and more like a tiny piece of Nevada preserved forever beneath polished stone.
Whoever made this understood a simple truth:
When the turquoise is this good…
You let it speak.
Hand-cut sterling leaves, twisted-wire bezels, a scalloped backplate, and deep oxidized silver create a classic Navajo composition that feels honest, balanced, and timeless. The leather bolo cords and sterling tips complete the piece exactly as they should—functional, understated, and built to last.
The hallmark simply reads “YY.”
We may never know the name behind those initials.
Fortunately, craftsmanship has a way of introducing itself.
Artifact Registry
Artifact: Lost Survey
Maker: Hallmarked “YY” (currently unattributed Navajo silversmith)
Origin: Navajo
Era: Circa 1970s
Materials
- Sterling Silver
- Natural Royston Ribbon Turquoise
- Braided Leather
Specifications
- Traditional bolo tie
- Hand-fabricated sterling silver construction
- Hand-cut leaf appliqués
- Twisted-wire bezel
- Scalloped backplate
- Original sterling bolo tips
Collector’s Gallery Value: $1,000
Collector’s Gallery Value represents an estimated replacement value based on comparable gallery offerings for works of similar craftsmanship, materials, rarity, condition, and collector desirability. It reflects the value one might reasonably expect to encounter in a curated gallery setting and serves as a reference rather than a direct selling price.
Field Observation
The turquoise is the unmistakable centerpiece. The dramatic ribbon matrix creates the impression of rivers winding through desert earth, while the restrained silverwork allows the natural beauty of the stone to remain completely uninterrupted. It’s a perfect example of traditional Navajo silversmithing serving the material rather than competing with it.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
These are the pieces I secretly love the most.
An unknown hallmark.
An incredible stone.
Old silver with the kind of wear that only comes from being appreciated instead of forgotten.
I don’t need every piece to have a famous signature. Sometimes I’d rather imagine the craftsman sitting at a bench fifty years ago, picking out this exact piece of turquoise because they knew it deserved something special.
And they were right.
If I found this tucked away in the back of an old trading post, I’d buy it before I asked who made it.
Some relics earn their reputation.
Others never needed one.
Lost Survey
Somewhere between the mine and the trading post, this relic found its way into the world.
The artist’s name may have faded into history, but their eye for turquoise certainly didn’t.
The moment I saw this bolo, I stopped looking at the silver and got completely lost inside the stone. Rivers of impossible blue wind through warm copper earth, creating the kind of natural landscape that only Royston Ribbon turquoise can produce. It’s less like a gemstone and more like a tiny piece of Nevada preserved forever beneath polished stone.
Whoever made this understood a simple truth:
When the turquoise is this good…
You let it speak.
Hand-cut sterling leaves, twisted-wire bezels, a scalloped backplate, and deep oxidized silver create a classic Navajo composition that feels honest, balanced, and timeless. The leather bolo cords and sterling tips complete the piece exactly as they should—functional, understated, and built to last.
The hallmark simply reads “YY.”
We may never know the name behind those initials.
Fortunately, craftsmanship has a way of introducing itself.
Artifact Registry
Artifact: Lost Survey
Maker: Hallmarked “YY” (currently unattributed Navajo silversmith)
Origin: Navajo
Era: Circa 1970s
Materials
- Sterling Silver
- Natural Royston Ribbon Turquoise
- Braided Leather
Specifications
- Traditional bolo tie
- Hand-fabricated sterling silver construction
- Hand-cut leaf appliqués
- Twisted-wire bezel
- Scalloped backplate
- Original sterling bolo tips
Collector’s Gallery Value: $1,000
Collector’s Gallery Value represents an estimated replacement value based on comparable gallery offerings for works of similar craftsmanship, materials, rarity, condition, and collector desirability. It reflects the value one might reasonably expect to encounter in a curated gallery setting and serves as a reference rather than a direct selling price.
Field Observation
The turquoise is the unmistakable centerpiece. The dramatic ribbon matrix creates the impression of rivers winding through desert earth, while the restrained silverwork allows the natural beauty of the stone to remain completely uninterrupted. It’s a perfect example of traditional Navajo silversmithing serving the material rather than competing with it.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
These are the pieces I secretly love the most.
An unknown hallmark.
An incredible stone.
Old silver with the kind of wear that only comes from being appreciated instead of forgotten.
I don’t need every piece to have a famous signature. Sometimes I’d rather imagine the craftsman sitting at a bench fifty years ago, picking out this exact piece of turquoise because they knew it deserved something special.
And they were right.
If I found this tucked away in the back of an old trading post, I’d buy it before I asked who made it.
Some relics earn their reputation.
Others never needed one.
