ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Oscar is not only a beloved Santa Fe favorite but also an accomplished artist whose jewelry has been cherished and collected by many of our nation’s most prominent celebrities. Contributing significantly to his success, Oscar was discovered and embraced by Ralph Lauren during the time when Ralph was introducing southwestern jewelry to a wider audience around the world back in the 1990s. This pivotal moment helped launch Oscar’s work into the spotlight and cemented his reputation in the world of ‘finer’ southwestern jewelry. Presently Oscar is signed with “Double D Ranch” who he has been working with for some time now.

Oscar's a veteran silversmith who has been designing & making jewelry since 1971, beginning his journey while living in Arizona during a vibrant period when many other jewelry artists were also blossoming. Early on, he was influenced by his Navajo friend Dee Morris while living in Sedona, but he is primarily self-taught, developing a unique style through years of dedication and experimentation.

He is widely recognized for stepping out of the conventional Southwestern jewelry norms by incorporating stones not typically associated with the region, often pairing these unusual gems with classic Southwestern stones such as turquoise. Oscar possesses strong design instincts, skillfully combining various shaped cuts with an array of colored materials that come together in seamless harmony. While his skill set is impressively broad, cluster work—particularly earrings—stands out as a true favorite and specialty of his. This is undoubtedly an artist who has paid his dues over decades, and as a result, his exquisite work justifies premium pricing in the market.

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EARRING PROVENANCE:

Once owned by a serious Santa Fe collector who was downsizing & hadn’t worn them as much as she would have loved to.. They are well kept.

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THE EARRINGS:

Thoughtfully made in a versatile moveable 3-tier design, these pieces feature a collection of tear drop shaped cuts in various sizes, all made from beautiful Chinese turquoise. Much like other renowned regions around the world, China is a notable source of exceptional turquoise that exhibits stunning matrix patterns that add unique character and depth to each stone. The intricate veining and color variations make these pieces truly distinctive and a remarkable addition to any collection.

How and where the stones are carefully placed determines the overall shape of each tier's sterling silver platform, which in turn gives the tier an extended appearance, both in width and height.

Instead of following the traditional method of connecting pieces with jump rings, Oscar chooses a unique approach: he drills the sterling silver and uses sterling wire, which is then meticulously soldered on the backside. (See the backside photo for reference.) This innovative technique has become something of a ‘signature’ for him, showcasing his distinctive workmanship.

They are not a heavy earring, so if clips don’t work for you, you can easily have your jeweler turn these into a post earring.

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ARTIST: Oscar Betz

TRIBAL AFFILATION: None-Anglo -Native Inspired

MEASUREMENTS: 2-5/8" X 1.25" (Width taken at the top,which is the widest area.)

COMBINED WEIGHT: 24.4 Grams

METAL: Sterling Silver

METAL FINISH: Naturally Developed Patina

STONE: Chinese Turquoise

STONE SHAPE: Tear Drop-Round

STYLE: Turquoise Cluster Earrings

EAR CONNECTION: CLIP ON

CONDITION: Well kept, No loose, cracked, chipped stones, Clips have a good tension, warm patina development

HALLMARK: Oscar Betz

Comes Gift Boxed..
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SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT:
Anything with a high price tag, will have a mandatory signature confirmation requirement & will come insured (reflected in shipping price).. If you're not home in the day & need them shipped where they can be signed for,please change that in your "Ship To" section before I create the shipping label***I'm sorry if this may be an inconvenience, but I do not ship expensive pieces without one. This is for your safety & mine.

PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING:
*****I do not consider myself a 'professional photographer" but I do try to give you photos that are 'realistic in color.. Please understand that all screen monitors are different, so the materials can look brighter (or duller) ,more intense or less intense from one computer/phone to the next.

In order to give you close up photos so I can provide you with all the detail, can tend to make the item look much more larger & everything is more magnified & exaggerated than in actuality. To get an accurate idea of how big these are,please look at photo 2 or you can take a tape measure & compare to my given measurements