Southwestern Jewelry: 6 Handmade Pieces We Love

Complete your signature style with a piece of Southwestern jewelry that bears the unmistakable hand touch of the designer

By Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

Etched In

You could say that engraving is the opposite of typing on a smartphone: time-intensive, and painstaking. We’ll take this as an antidote to tech fatigue. William Henry made its name with pocket knives but has broadened into a full range of men’s jewelry, including this hand-finished, sterling silver take on the classic twist anchor link bracelet. $950, williamhenry.com

American Made

Fourth-generation Texan Dian Malouf has spent more than 30 years designing one-of-a-kind jewelry (over 10,000 pieces!), which are each handmade in the USA. Inspired by unique finds from her global travels, Malouf’s work combines textural silver and gold with vibrant semiprecious stones like turquoise in this three-stone ring. $1,130, maloufontheplaza.com

Recipe for Success

Hopi artist Don Supplee may have turned to jewelry making after tiring of being a chef, but the hand skills that once went into chiffonade are clearly apparent in the three-dimensional carving work on his designs. Using the lost-wax process and mixing gold with bold turquoise, Supplee produces singular pieces that draw on his Hopi heritage. $4,500, waddelltradingco.com

Cast Away

Holly Masterson’s work may make you recall antiquities, which is no accident. The designer works in a style she calls “ancient contemporary,” which refers to her combined technique of primitive hand casting and modern hand finishing. The result is hard to place, perhaps, but utterly wearable in any century. $245, santafedrygoods.com

Layer Take

Starting his jewelry-making career by studying the lost art of leather braiding, Dennis Hogan moved on to incorporate the hand touch into his distinctive silver pieces. This sterling silver squash blossom necklace incorporates both the artist’s signature clasp and vintage coins into an iconic Southwestern motif. $475, ddranchwear.com 

Welded Bliss

This is jewelry forged by the bonds of holy matrimony — that is, created by a husband and wife who are both also second-generation metalsmiths. Nicole and Harry Hansen individually forge each piece they make, so no two are the same. Better yet, each of these cuff bracelets is made for the recipient’s wrist size to ensure a perfect fit. $75, sterlingandsteel.com