ph: 623.680.8700
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Heishi Necklaces
By James and Doris Coriz
These necklaces are painstakingly made, bead by bead, by James and Doris Coriz. The beads are finished, measured, inspected and then strung to make these perfectly beautiful Native American necklaces. I can provide a certificate of origin and authenticity if requested.
I purchased these one of a kind necklaces directly from the artists. James and Doris are noted for their very small diameter turquoise heishi beads. Standing next to me buying was a buyer from the Ahwahnee Hotel shop in Yosemite and a buyer from a prestigious Scottsdale boutique. They, undoubtedly, are charging more for these pieces than we do. ~Liz


Beautiful traditional Heishi necklace with small beautifully matched beads. It is made of hand made blue turquoise, light green serpentine and jet, lightly polished. The necklace and sterling fittings measure 18 inches. The stones are small in diameter. Note spacer stones at the bottom of the neclace. Just lovely!
Price: $45.00

Beautiful traditional Heishi necklace with very small and fine brown shell hand made beads. It is made of hand made brown shell and serpentine donut style beads. Lightly polished. The necklace and sterling fittings measure 20 inches.
Price: $45.00
Santo Domingo Pueblo (Kewa) Earrings

Lovely pair of Heishi dangle earrings with green serpentine to match the stones in the above necklaces. The earrings measure 1 inches in length not including the stainless wire hooks.
Price: $15.00

Lovely pair of Heishi dangle earrings with turquoise, coral and shell. The earrings measure 2.5 inches in length not including the hooks.
Price: $30.00 

Lovely pair of Heishi dangle earrings with blue turquoise and shell to go well with heishi necklaces. The earrings measure 1 inches in length not including the stainless wire hooks.
Price: $15.00


Lovely pair of Heishi dangle earrings with multi-color spiny oyster.. The earrings measure 1 inches in length not including the stainless wire hooks.
Price: $15.00
Heishi - The Oldest Form of Jewelry in New Mexico
The exact meaning of the word heishi (hee shee) is “shell necklace.” It comes from the Keres language, spoken by the Native Americans living in Kewa, (Santa Domingo Pueblo). They are acknowledged to be the masters of this beautiful, creative form which developed out of their societal heritage. Currently there are a few artisans producing it at San Felipe and perhaps other Pueblos as well. It appears to be the only Indian jewelry that derives directly from Native American history and culture, since the metal smithing and lapidary skills used by the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi have their origins in the European influence of the early Spanish explorers.
When properly used, the name refers only to pieces of shell which have been drilled and ground into beads that are then strung to make either single or multi-strand necklaces. However, in common usage, the word heishi, also denotes necklaces whose very tiny beads are made of other natural materials by a similar process.
Santa Fe Rose uses this word to describe traditional Heishi from Santo Domingo Pueblo artists.
Santo Domingo Pueblo (Kewa) Necklaces


Beautiful traditional Heishi necklace with very small and fine beads. It is made of hand made blue turquoise, red stone, shell, serpentine and jet, lightly polished. The necklace and sterling fittings measure 19 inches. The stones are small in diameter. This necklace would be great with a pendant.
Price: $45.00

This necklace is a colorful and fun departure from the usual graduated heishi beads. The necklace was made by James and Doris Coriz. There are three strands of tiny brown shell beads (hand made) strung with a variety of chunky stones and chips including shell, turquoise, coral and other colorful stones.
The full necklace including clasp measures 28 inches. Gorgeous one of a kind authentic Kewa necklace. Hallmarked on Sterling.
Price: $120.00
Turquoise and Serpentine Long Necklace

Beautiful traditional Heishi necklace with beautifully matched beads. It is made of hand made blue green turquoise and green serpentine, lightly polished. The serpentine is just a little lighter than shown in the photos. The necklace and sterling fittings measure 21.5 inches. The stones are medium sized in diameter. The largest beads measure just under 1/2 inch in diameter. Note spacer stones at the bottom of the neclace. Just lovely!
Price: $145.00
Santo Domingo Earrings
Beautifully matched apple coral slab earrings with hooks from Santo Domingo Pueblo. These measure 1 and 1/4 inches long not including the silver hooks.
Beautifully matched inlaid Santo Domingo earrings. Joe Aguilar has used turquoise, jet and serpentine to make these gorgeous earrings. These measure 1 inch long not including the silver hooks.
Beautifully matched turquoise slab earrings with hooks from Santo Domingo Pueblo. These measure 1 and 1/8 inches long not including the silver hooks.


This is a beautiful pair of hook dangle earrings inlaid by Walter Garcia of Santo Domingo Pueblo. He is well-known for his exquisite inlay. The rectangular hanging part of the earring measures 1 and 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch. From the sterling hooks, the earrings measure 2 and 3/4 inches long. The inlay is done in turquoise and coral... a beautiful combination! Smooth to the touch and great craftsmanship. The earrings are backed in what looks like white buffalo or quartz stone. Authentic and well-made.
Copyright 2012 Santa Fe Rose. All rights reserved.
ph: 623.680.8700
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