Calvin Begay was born in Gallup, New Mexico in 1965, and grew up on the Navajo Reservation at Tohatchi. He began designing jewelry in 1975. His work reflects both superb design sense and the ability to inlay stones and silver with extraordinary attention to detail.

As a talented Navajo jewelry artist, his designs and work have won awards, such as Best of Show in the 1989 Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial. Pieces by Calvin can be identified by the precision of the inlay and the silver work. He has earned feature treatment in Southwest Art Magazine and Arizona Highways Magazine.

As a hands-on maker of jewelry, Calvin often signs his work. As a designer, working with others who complete designs under his direction. He often includes the signature of one or more of his studio colleagues who complete his pieces. For a while, Calvin’s studio was in Gallup at “A Touch of Santa Fe.” He occasionally did not sign his work during that time, using the TSF stamp as his halllmark.

Sometime around the end of 2006, Calvin ended his association with TSF and discontinued use of that hallmark. A Touch of Santa Fe, however, continues to use the hallmark. As a result, a bonafide Calvin piece may or may not be signed by him or carry the TSF imprint.

To determine if an unsigned piece attributed to Calvin truly is his work, ask your source for a Certificate of Authenticity. This puts them on the record. If it is later determined that Calvin Begay did not create the piece, you have attribution on paper to back up a request for your moneyback.

When you own a certified Calvin Begay work of Navajo jewelry art, whether it is a bracelet, earrings, necklace or pendant, you have an object that is both beautiful and authentic in its Native American heritage.