Vintage Navajo Bolo With Turquoise and Silver Leaf Work

Did you know that the first patents for the bolo tie design weren't filed until the early 1950's? In 1953, William Meeker applied to a patent that was later assigned to a NY manufacturing company for “The present invention relates generally to apparel and is directed particularly to a novel article of neckwear comprising a necktie and a slide cooperatively associated therewith for relative adjustment.” Over the next decades, this novel type of neckwear took off - especially in the American Southwest.

This is a fun vintage bolo from the early 1970's - a big heyday of Native American turquoise jewelry collecting. The bolo is showy and distinctly Navajo with its large size and big turquoise stones.

Interestingly, you'll find different types of turquoise in this bolo - from the big ole nugget in the center - as nuggety as they come - to two more polished stones and others somewhere in between. 

This vintage turquoise bolo also has handmade silver leaves and flowers, beads, and heavy gauge spiraling wire accents. All together, it's a piece that'll draw the eye right in.

The silver keeper measures 3 1/4" x 2 1/4" and is attached to a brown leather strap.