Turquoise in Tehachapi by Jessica Ann Goodman
The Tehachapi Valley Gem & Mineral Society (TVGMS) hosted a special educational event, Turquoise in Tehachapi, on Saturday, May 23rd 2026 at the Tehachapi Senior Center.
Renowned turquoise expert Jessica Ann Goodman traveled from San Francisco to give an informative presentation on turquoise and Native American jewelry. She also met with members of the community to evaluate and give appraisals of turquoise and Native American jewelry. Jessica is a certified gem and turquoise appraiser with extensive expertise in the history, identification and valuation of turquoise.
Jessica shared a wonderful and informative presentation on turquoise and Native jewelry. After the presentation, the doors were opened to the community to bring in their favorite pieces of Native American jewelry for Jessica to provide complimentary verbal appraisals. Jessica also provides written certified appraisals for a fee.
Jessica is an expert in the identification and authentication of vintage and contemporary Native American jewelry. She also studies the second-hand market with a focus on social media platforms in addition to being immersed in the Native American jewelry communities, and therefore has a thorough understanding of the pricing nuances associated with these online selling arenas in both vintage and contemporary Native American jewelry. Her evaluations generally include pertinent information such as tribal affiliation, age, materials and a short biography on the artist trying to provide as much information as possible to get a full understanding of each piece of jewelry.
As a passionate Native American jewelry lover, Jessica has been collecting vintage Native American jewelry for most of her adult life. Since 2020, she has devoted her time to selling and staying on top of market trends; connecting and building relationships with Native American artists from various tribes and cultures; visiting Native American jewelry shows in the Southwest; exploring antique markets and vintage stores on a weekly basis; administrating Facebook niche groups with a focus on educating users on Native American jewelry; and lastly, cultivating a safe environment in which to buy and sell jewelry online.
This event presented a unique opportunity for the community to learn about the cultural significance, artistry and value of turquoise and Native American jewelry from a recognized authority in the field. It was also an opportunity to network with fellow collectors and Native jewelry lovers in our community. Everyone enjoyed the presentation and we thank Jessica very much for sharing her extensive knowledge of turquoise and Native American jewelry with us.
For additional background, educational information, and to shop online, please visit Jessica's San Francisco Trading Post website at
https://www.SanFranciscoTradingPost.com.
