Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Richard Chavez is regarded by jewelry collectors as one of the finest lapidary artists in the American Southwest. His exquisite Native American-style pieces are painstakingly handcrafted with intricate inlays, dramatic designs and exceptional quality.
Chavez was born in 1949 in San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico, located along the banks of the Rio Grande. In the early 1970s, he attended the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and worked as an architectural draftsman for Harvey S. Hoshour, who had worked for famed Bauhaus architect and designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
While in architectural school, Chavez supplemented his income by making jewelry. In 1976, he left his studies to pursue a full-time career as a jewelry designer, establishing the Chavez Studio.
Influenced by the Bauhaus philosophy of minimalism, balance and the sophisticated use of materials, and inspired by Hopi jeweler Charles Loloma, Chavez began crafting his jewelry using non-traditional stones such as opal, tiger’s eye, lapis lazuli, black jade, fossilized ivory and colored agate, materials he still uses today.
With his perfectionist’s eye, Chavez meticulously hand cuts each stone before it is ground into shape, polished and placed into a gold or silver setting. Chavez’s labor-intensive process results in seemingly seamless creations such as his cuff bracelets. Cocktail rings, fashion rings and other rings and bracelets are also pieced together with puzzle-like precision.
In 1976, Chavez entered his first competition at the Eight Northern Indian Pueblo Arts and Crafts Show, winning the grand prize. He went on to win multiple awards before he stopped entering competitions in 1990.
Chavez now works with his son Jared at the Chavez Studio, creating fine gold and silver jewelry with semi-precious stones. Together, they have participated in several jewelry shows and fairs across the United States.
In 2018, a retrospective exhibition of Chavez’s jewelry titled “Symmetry in Stone” was held at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of Richard Chavez’s rings and bracelets.
2010s American Native American Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Jade, Opal, Turquoise, Black Jade, Fire Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Native American Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s Native American Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s American Native American Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Coral, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Native American Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Coral, Jade, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modern Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Black Jade, Jade, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Art Deco Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Jade, Diamond, Agate, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Diamond, Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Modern Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Jade, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Turquoise, Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Native American Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Turquoise, Jade, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Jade, White Diamond, Diamond, Coral, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Richard Chavez Jewelry & Watches
Turquoise, Coral, Sterling Silver
