Alton Bedonie – Award-Winning Spiderweb Turquoise Jewelry Artist

About Alton Bedonie

Alton Bedonie has earned recognition and awards for his turquoise jewelry, standing out for both his silver craftsmanship and his sharp eye for exceptional stones. In a field where many artists specialize narrowly in either metalwork or stone-cutting, Alton's reputation rests on doing both well — the silverwork frames the stone, but never competes with it for attention.

Identifying Alton Bedonie's Work

His hallmark reads AYB Sterling, a mark worth learning if you're collecting fine turquoise jewelry from the Southwest. As with many hallmarks from this era of Native American silverwork, it's typically stamped in a small, unobtrusive spot rather than displayed prominently.

Style & Materials

Alton is particularly known for his use of high-quality natural turquoise, including striking American spiderweb turquoise. Spiderweb turquoise gets its name from the fine, web-like matrix patterns that run through the stone — thin veins of host rock left behind during the turquoise's formation. These patterns are entirely natural and unique to each stone, meaning no two spiderweb turquoise pieces ever look quite the same, which is part of why collectors prize them so highly. Sourcing natural, well-matrixed spiderweb turquoise consistently, as Alton does, takes real skill in stone selection and typically commands a premium over lower-grade or treated material.

Shop Nativo Arts

Explore our selection of vintage spiderweb turquoise and silver jewelry from talented Native American artisans.