Larry Martinez Jeweler

About

Larry Martinez Jeweler est.1971
Gemological Institute of America 1978
Diamonds, Jewelry Design & Retailing

Story

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.

He 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, and the traditional work of Native America, particularly that of the Navajo, Hopi, Rio Grande Pueblos and the Pacific Northwest.

Larry’s work has been exhibited at the Millicent Rogers Museum, the Taylor Museum in Colorado Springs, University of Texas Art Museum, Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection in Williamsburg Virginia, the William Nelson Gallery and Atkins Museum in Kansas City, Missouri and the Heard Museum in Arizona, as well as many private collections.

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 it's present location in Taos. After attending courses with the Gemological Institute of America in 1978, Larry expanded the business to include work in gold and other precious metals, diamonds and other gemstones and jewelry retailing.

43 years later, Larry and his staff of professional jewelers still specialize in custom design work as well as special orders and repairs of virtually all types of jewelry, with a particular interest in preserving quality vintage Southwestern and Native American jewelry. They have years of experience and have accumulated a wide range of raw materials to work with when replacing broken or missing pieces, as well as a better than average collection of finished turquoise and coral cabochons.

In addition to showcasing Larry's designs, the shop's inventory includes of 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 know as "old pawn"( they prefer not to use that term loosely), they have a much larger selection of pieces than represented on this website.

Larry and his staff welcome any inquiries you may have regarding their inventory, custom orders and repairs. Please contact them by email through this website, or by phone (Monday - Friday 9-5 mountain time) at 575-758-4169. [email protected]