LJS of Santa Fe

The secret no Santa Fe local Plaza goer wants you to know is that LJS is probably the best custom maker and repairer of vintage Native American jewelry in New Mexico. There’s a place that every Native American jewelry seller on the Plaza goes to have their jewelry fixed. They go to LJS. That means you will probably wait 3 to 6 months for any repair you leave with them. They service the entire Plaza and there’s a reason. It’s because their craftsmanship and attention to detail are worth the wait. I have had many vintage pieces with varying repair needs go to LJS and come back looking like the original Zuni artist themselves laid hands on it. It’s not easy to chemically match sterling patina that has been building since the 1960s, but somehow LJS does it with ease. They are an absolute wealth of knowledge regarding vintage provenance and turquoise and other valuable stones typically used in Native American jewelry. If you have a custom piece in mind, bring them your metal and stones of choice and they will make you whatever you want. There are very few operations in Santa Fe still standing whose craftsmanship and attention to detail are still as affordable and accessible as LJS. They really are Santa Fe’s most treasured hidden jewelry gem on the Plaza. We love going in whenever we can just to browse and say hi. Thanks very much for your work, you guys!

Another store sent me to LJS for having some rings sized and a bolo repaired. John did fantastic work, having the bolo done in an hour and having my rings back to me before my 3 day visit was over. John and Kim have also educated me on a necklace I bought elsewhere and provided an appraisal. John helped me select a few pieces to coordinate with it as well. I have more jewelry to be repaired and a piece to create, and will only trust John and Kim with my jewelry.

I had such a positive experience in this store. John, whose family owns the store, has been turning stone into gems since 10. He’s also a welder so he can help you put together custom jewelry. He’s extremely knowledgeable on the process, origin of the product, and authenticity. He was able to look at the turquoise ring I got from VA and tell me all about the stone. He’s very transparent about the quality and different types of turquoise. He isn’t trying to push a sale. He’s happy to engage with customers and create a friendly, fun experience. He will pull out a bunch of stones for you and walk you through the process of creating custom jewelry.