Larry Martinez Jeweler Giftly

Located in Taos, New Mexico, Larry Martinez Jeweler is a jewelry and jewelry repair business that prides itself on its custom design work, special orders, and repairs of virtually all types of jewelry. The shop has a particular interest in preserving quality vintage Southwestern and Native American jewelry and has years of experience and a wide range of raw materials to work with when replacing broken or missing pieces.

Larry Martinez himself is best known for his complex museum-quality jewelry inspired by design elements as varied as early Meso-American, Scythian, Egyptian, and other ancient cultures of the Fertile Triangle, as well as the traditional work of Native America, particularly that of the Navajo, Hopi, Rio Grande Pueblos, and the Pacific Northwest.

In addition to showcasing Larry's designs, the shop's inventory includes all types of jewelry, from contemporary to estate, fine to tribal. The emphasis, however, is on quality vintage American Indian jewelry, the only jewelry native to America. Also known as "old pawn" (they prefer not to use that term loosely), they have a much larger selection of pieces than represented on their website.

Larry Martinez is a lifelong resident of Taos, New Mexico, and was raised amidst the centuries-old cultures and traditions that comprise the mosaic endemic to the northern Rio Grande region of New Mexico. At the beginning of his career, Larry's focus was custom-designed silver jewelry and repairs and, in 1971, he opened the shop Larry Martinez Jewelers at its present location in Taos.

After attending the Gemological Institute of America in 1978, Larry expanded the business to include work in gold and other precious metals, diamonds, and gemstones. His work has been exhibited at several museums and private collections, including the Millicent Rogers Museum, the Taylor Museum in Colorado Springs, and the Heard Museum in Arizona.

Reviews of Larry Martinez Jeweler are overwhelmingly positive, with customers praising the quality of the jewelry and the expertise of the staff. One customer raved about a custom turquoise wedding band that Larry helped create, stating that they "absolutely love" it. Another customer was thrilled to find someone who could repair sterling Native American jewelry and do it so well.

Overall, Larry Martinez Jeweler is a must-visit for anyone interested in quality vintage American Indian jewelry or custom-designed pieces inspired by ancient cultures. With years of experience and a wide range of materials to work with, Larry and his staff can create pieces that are sure to become treasured family heirlooms.