Darryl Dean Begay handmakes each piece of jewelry, bringing together his Navajo background and modern techniques. He spent much of his youth attending Native American ceremonies, which shaped how he sees color, pattern, and meaning in his jewelry making. The artist selects premium stones, such as turquoise, coral, and sugilite, for their natural beauty and creates detailed inlay designs that highlight each stone’s distinctive qualities. Worldwide, his work is highly sought after by collectors, and it has also opened doors to museum exhibitions and prestigious art shows.
Meet Darryl Dean Begay
Darryl Dean Begay grew up on the Navajo reservation, where he watched his family create beautiful art, such as weaving and ceremonial sand painting. In 1997, his uncle Bobby Begay offered to teach him jewelry making. Bobby was not only skilled at tufa casting but also served the community as a medicine man in the Native American Church, imparting both technical skills and cultural wisdom to Darryl.
Eager to learn more, Darryl connected with other experienced artists who shared their knowledge. Raymond C. Yazzie introduced him to working with stones and silver together to create inlays. Myron Pantaeh showed him the beauty of creating rich colors on metal using patina. Timothy Begay taught Darryl the fundamentals of style.
Darryl’s wife, Rebecca, learned jewelry making from him, and together they achieved their greatest honor in 2009 by winning Best of Show at the Santa Fe Indian Market for their piece “Return of the Long Walk.” Rebecca also inspired him to adopt her Christian faith, and now Darryl draws a lot of strength and ideas from God. For Darryl, jewelry making is beyond just making beautiful objects because he believes these pieces carry positive energy from sacred stones and help preserve the stories and traditions of his people. Therefore, he continues teaching Native American jewelry making to his family members, including his brother Lee, cousin Philander, and son Robert, as well as to fans of his work.
Discover Darryl Dean Begay’s Work
Darryl Dean Begay is renowned as both a contemporary and traditional Navajo artist and has won many awards at various shows. He makes jewelry using tufa casting, which was invented in the 1800s when early silversmiths were first pounding out silver sheets from American coins. This technique uses volcanic ash to create molds that give jewelry a unique look and feel.
Pendants
Darryl’s pendants feature important Navajo symbols cast in 925 sterling silver with premium natural turquoise stones from famous mines. His Northern Dancer pendant uses rare Lone Mountain turquoise and represents traditional ceremonial figures that hold deep meaning in his culture. The Navajo Woman with Eagle Fan Feather piece is made with high-grade Morenci turquoise and displays fine details, honoring tribal traditions. Animal-themed pendants like the Lamb, as well as the Lamb and the Lion, depict both traditional Navajo life and the influence of Christianity. Darryl’s techniques include saw work, appliqué, and partial or full oxidation.
Bracelets
The artist’s bracelets are broad and substantial, made with high-quality turquoise stones from mines like Bisbee and Sleeping Beauty. Darryl’s Bear Paw piece includes paw-shaped ends that add evocative symbolism while also securing high-grade turquoise stones. Dragonfly With Four Flowers bracelets combine Apache Blue turquoise with four Sleeping Beauty stones and show the influence of his wife Rebecca’s characteristic floral designs. Darryl’s Dragonfly piece with petroglyph handprints and crosses uses rare Bisbee turquoise and connects ancient rock art and Christianity. The tufa casting method gives these bracelets their earthy texture, and he also uses saw work in some pieces.
Rings
Darryl creates rings in sterling silver, 14k gold, and 18k gold that feature some of the world’s rarest turquoise varieties, such as Lone Mountain and Ithaca Peak. The 18k gold Arrowhead ring holds three matching quality Lone Mountain stones, the two side ones set in petroglyph hands that represent healing and friendship. Dragonfly rings with Native American teepee side carvings use a two-step process where he first carves the detailed dragonfly and then creates the band using cuttlebone molds. You will also often see hand-sawed bezels, appliqué, oxidized backgrounds, and satin finishes in Darryl’s rings.
Shop Darryl Dean Begay’s Jewelry at SilverTQ
SilverTQ is proud to showcase Darryl Dean Begay’s jewelry collection, where each piece embodies the artist’s deep respect for Navajo ceremonies and traditional tufa casting. You can own thoughtfully designed jewelry that combines stunning turquoise stones with distinctive tufa-cast sterling silver textures. Explore our selection of Darryl’s handmade pieces and add authentic Native American jewelry to your collection today.
FAQs
What makes Darryl’s jewelry style unique?
Darryl Dean Begay specializes in traditional Navajo techniques like tufa casting, stone inlay, appliqué, oxidation, and saw work to make one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. His expertise in turquoise, gained through learning from celebrated artists in the field, allows him to choose the finest stones for each handmade creation. The exceptional quality and cultural authenticity of his work generate high demand among collectors and lovers of Native American jewelry.
What recognitions or awards has he received?
Darryl and his wife, Rebecca T. Begay, have received many awards for their remarkable jewelry. They earned the prestigious Best in Show award at the 2009 Santa Fe Indian Market, and their family’s artistic achievements were recognized in Native American Art Magazine in 2025.
