Silver That Spoke for the Arena: A T. Yazzie Kingman Turquoise Necklace at the 2025 NFR

Reagan Underwood
Dec 20, 2025
4 min read

The T. Yazzie 26” Kingman Turquoise Navajo Pearls Necklace, as Seen at the 2025 National Finals Rodeo

A stunning close-up of a necklace featuring vibrant turquoise stones set in silver, creating a striking contrast with the dark background.

Silver remembers.It remembers hands that shaped it, stones that waited a million years underground, and the moments it bore witness to—quiet mornings, hard rides, bright lights.

This one remembers a voice.

During the 2025 National Finals Rodeo telecast, as millions tuned in from living rooms and bunkhouses alike, Jordan Briggs stood ringside doing what great announcers do best: giving rhythm and meaning to the thunder of hooves and the held breath before the gate cracks. Around his neck hung a piece that did not shout for attention—but earned it.

The T. Yazzie 26” Kingman Turquoise Navajo Pearls Necklace.

This is the story of that necklace—where it comes from, why it matters, and how a strand of silver beads and blue stone can quietly become part of rodeo history.

Why This Necklace Matters (and Why You Should Care)

Not all jewelry is decoration. Some pieces are punctuation.

In Western culture, what you wear often says as much as what you say. A hat crease, a buckle scarred from years of use, a strand of Navajo pearls worn thin with time—these are signals of lived-in authenticity. They tell people you didn’t just arrive; you stayed.

When a nationally televised rodeo broadcast features a specific piece of artisan jewelry, worn naturally by a respected voice of the sport, it does something rare:It bridges the distance between heritage craft and modern relevance.

This necklace is not a costume.It’s a companion.

The Moment: Worn at the 2025 National Finals Rodeo

T. Yazzie 26" Kingman Turquoise Navajo Pearls Necklace

$1,295.00

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The National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is not just an event—it’s a proving ground. For competitors, yes. But also for everything orbiting the arena: music, commentary, style, and presence.

When Jordan Briggs stepped into the broadcast booth wearing this necklace, it wasn’t styled for the camera. It simply belonged there.

Silver catching arena lights without glare
Turquoise steady and calm against dark fabric
A length that sat perfectly—noticeable, but never loud

That’s the quiet power of Navajo pearls done right.

The Maker’s Language: T. Yazzie and the Navajo Pearl Tradition

Navajo pearls are not pearls at all.

They are hollow sterling silver beads, traditionally hand-formed, soldered, and polished—each one a small act of patience. Their origins trace back to the late 1800s, when Navajo silversmiths adapted Spanish and Mexican metalworking techniques into something distinctly their own.

T. Yazzie works within that lineage—not replicating it, but conversing with it.

What Sets This Necklace Apart

Handmade sterling silver Navajo pearls
Genuine Kingman turquoise, prized for its clarity and sky-toned blues
26-inch length, ideal for layering or standalone wear
Balanced bead sizing that creates movement without clatter

This is not mass-produced symmetry. It’s human rhythm.

Kingman Turquoise: Stone of Open Sky

Kingman turquoise comes from northwestern Arizona, near the Cerbat Mountains. It’s known for its bright blue hues and occasional dark matrix—like a storm cloud moving across open sky.

Why Kingman matters:

Historically significant mine, active for over a century
Consistent color prized by collectors
Durable enough for daily wear, not just display

In this necklace, the Kingman stone acts as an anchor—visually and symbolically. Amid the repetition of silver beads, it gives the eye a place to rest.

Much like a pause in a good sentence.

A Voice, A Necklace, A Shared Ethos

Jordan Briggs is known for a particular kind of announcing—measured, respectful, deeply informed. She doesn’t talk over the moment. She frames it.

That ethos mirrors this necklace exactly.

It does not dominate an outfit
It complements without competing
It rewards closer attention

This is why the piece resonated on camera. It felt earned, not styled.

How This Necklace Wears (On and Off the Arena Floor)

Universal Truth

If it feels like it belongs after the third wear, you chose correctly.

The Frontier Test: Would It Have Made Sense 100 Years Ago?

This is a question we ask often at Big Nose Kate Co.

Would this piece have looked right:

In a dusty rodeo arena in 1925?
On a trader’s porch in Gallup?
Around a campfire, catching firelight instead of LEDs?

The answer is yes. And that’s the highest compliment.

Care Instructions (Because Good Silver Deserves Respect)

Store flat or hanging to avoid bead stress
Clean gently with a soft silver cloth
Avoid harsh chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners
Wear it often—silver stays brighter when it’s lived in

Turquoise prefers consistency. Treat it like skin, not glass.

Styling Notes from the Big Nose Kate Co. Workbench

Let it be the only necklace when worn long
Pair with matte textures: denim, wool, suede
Avoid competing turquoise—this stone wants breathing room

Remember: restraint is not absence. It’s intention.

From Broadcast Booth to Personal Legacy

What made this necklace special at the 2025 NFR wasn’t the spotlight—it was the ease with which it belonged in that moment.

Silver does not chase trends. It waits for the right stories to gather around it.

This one has already begun.

Product Snapshot (For the Practical Mind)

Item: T. Yazzie 26” Kingman Turquoise Navajo Pearls Necklace
Materials: Sterling silver, genuine Kingman turquoise
Length: 26 inches
Origin: Handmade by Navajo artisan
As Seen: Worn by Jordan Briggs during the 2025 National Finals Rodeo telecast