Calvin Martinez

Calvin Martinez is a multi-award-winning Navajo (Diné) silversmith renowned globally for his dedication to traditional, “Old Style” jewelry making. Born circa 1958–1960 and raised in the Haystack area of New Mexico, Martinez comes from a family deeply rooted in silversmithing. He is celebrated for refusing to take modern shortcuts; he often works with heavy ingot silver and uses custom-made stamps he tools himself to achieve his signature deep, crisp impressions.

Martinez draws inspiration from the early Navajo smiths of the late 1800s and early 1900s, producing pieces that look and feel like museum-quality antiques. He exclusively uses high-grade, natural stones, carefully matching the rugged character of the silver with the unique matrices of the turquoise. His dedication to authenticity has earned him numerous accolades, and his work is highly sought after by collectors who value the heft, precision, and historical reverence of true classic Navajo silverwork.