What Makes Russell Johnson with Castle Gap Jewelry Co a Good Neighbor?

Real handmade jewelry has a heartbeat, and you can hear it in the way the story gets told. We’re joined by Russell Johnson from Castle Gap Jewelry Co, a Dallas jeweler that’s been family-owned and operated since October 1973, to unpack what “authentic Native American jewelry” actually means when you care about craft, materials, and provenance.

We talk about the origin behind the Castle Gap name, why the family chose Native American Southwest jewelry as their “treasure,” and what gets lost when sterling silver and turquoise become just another mass-produced look. Russell explains how artisan jewelry is made through hand-cut stones, hand polishing, hand stamping, and the kind of time investment that can stretch to a week and a half for a single bracelet. He also shares why scarcity is changing the market as some mines shut down, making certain turquoise and other materials harder to find.

We also get practical about buying and wearing these pieces today. Castle Gap serves everyone, and Russell breaks down why turquoise can be just as at home with jeans as it is with an evening outfit. He explains how the shop protects quality by sourcing from reputable people they’ve trusted for decades, and he invites listeners to explore castlegap.com and learn the artists’ stories, including a special in-store weekend with SuperSmith.

If you care about authentic Native American jewelry, artisan-made sterling silver, turquoise, and finding meaningful Southwest-inspired pieces in Dallas, this conversation is for you.

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About Our Guest

Russell Johnson
Castle Gap Jewelry Co
Family-owned Dallas jeweler specializing in Native American and Southwestern artisan jewelry, including handcrafted sterling silver and turquoise pieces.

🌐 Learn more: castlegap.com