Alvin Yellowhorse Navajo Cuff Bracelet, Night Sky Inlay, Wide Statement Collector Piece
$6,519.00
Details
• Artist: Alvin Yellowhorse (signed)
• Origin: Navajo Nation (Lupton, Arizona)
• Material: Sterling Silver
• Weight: 117 grams
• Inner Circumference: 5 3/8” (5.375”)
• Gap: 1.25”
• Total Fit: ~6 5/8”
• Width: 1.5” (tapers to 1”)
A breathtaking cuff by Navajo master silversmith Alvin Yellowhorse, this design fully embodies the duality of Mother Earth and Father Sky, a theme deeply rooted in Navajo philosophy, where balance between the earth and the cosmos defines harmony.
About the Artist
Alvin Yellowhorse is a highly respected Navajo silversmith from Lupton, Arizona, working along the Arizona–New Mexico border. He comes from a multi-generational family of jewelers, learning the craft from his father, Frank Yellowhorse.
Since the late 1980s, Alvin has become known for pushing beyond traditional forms, combining tufa casting, precision stone inlay, and architectural design into a signature style that is instantly recognizable. His work often blends influences from Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and even ancient Anasazi design, creating pieces that feel both cultural and contemporary.
Collectors value his work for its:
• Precision and complexity
• Storytelling through stone and composition
• Balance of traditional technique with modern design
Design Breakdown
Mother Earth (Stone Mosaic Side)
The “Mother Earth” side is an intricate geometric inlay mosaic, built from carefully constructed triangular sections.
At first glance, it feels abstract but look closer, and a deliberate pattern emerges.
Each triangle is individually built, then aligned so the design flows seamlessly across the cuff. This is not random, it’s high-level precision work, where each section must visually connect with the next.
The inlay is set over a two-tone epoxy base, a technique used to stabilize and secure the stones while maintaining a smooth, continuous surface.
Stones used include:
• Pink coral
• Red coral
• Yellow jade
• Lab Boulder opal
• Carico Lake turquoise
• Sleeping Beauty turquoise
• Candelaria turquoise
• Cripple Creek turquoise
• Lone Mountain turquoise
• Morenci turquoise
• Wild Horse (magnesite)
• Lapis lazuli
• New Lander
This side represents the richness, variation, and grounded energy of the earth: layered, complex, and alive.
Father Sky (Acoma Jet Night Scene)
The opposite side is a striking contrast, a deep black Acoma jet inlay from Zuni, forming a night sky. This is where the piece becomes truly captivating.
Set into the jet:
• A radiant sun with lab boulder opal rays
• A detailed sun face, composed of lab boulder opal, mother of pearl, turquoise, jade, and magnesite
• A shooting star in lab boulder opal
• Stars and moon in mother of pearl
• Scattered turquoise accents representing celestial elements
This side represents Father Sky. It is expansive, cosmic, and full of motion.
Important detail:
The bracelet is intended to be worn or displayed with the sun’s mouth facing downward, a subtle but important orientation that many people miss.
Construction & Craftsmanship
• Upper inlay cuff is fully hand fabricated
• Base cuff is heavy sterling silver
• Hand-cut, random cutout edge design (only the ends are symmetrical)
• Hand-applied texture work throughout
Nothing here is machine-perfect and that’s the point.
Every detail reflects the hand of the artist.
Why This Piece Matters
This cuff captures everything that makes Alvin Yellowhorse’s work collectible:
• Cultural storytelling through design
• Extreme precision in stone inlay
• A bold, architectural presence
• A balance of earth and sky in a single wearable form
At 117 grams, it has real presence: this is not a light or delicate piece.
It’s a statement cuff for a serious collector.