Native American Jewelry
Exploring Earth’s Natural Gifts
This website is devoted to the beautiful creations of Native American Jewelry. I became interested in the making of Native American Jewelry when I started researching my Native American Heritage. So not only will we be exploring the different aspects of Native American Jewelry and what makes it so special, but also taking a look at the different tribes of Indians and how they make the beautiful pieces that we enjoy wearing everyday. The inspiration for the jewelry comes from our natural surroundings, the sky, mountains etc.
To the Native Americans the jewelry not only adorned the body, but had a special meaning or significance. I have enjoyed wearing Native American Jewelry since I was in High School in the seventies. I hope that if you haven’t already discovered the natural splendor of Native American Jewelry that in some small way I can help you discover and enjoy it as I have. May you be as proud as I am to wear and share it with everyone? I’m sure that those of you who have worn Native American Jewelry as long as I have will also have stories of your own. Please feel free to share them on the comment page.
The Tribes:
There are subtle differences in Native American Jewelry among each of the tribes. We will touch on only a couple of them here, as there are numerous tribes. The Cherokees used a lot of copper and silver in their jewelry making, as did other tribes. They also were known for their beadwork. The Navajos make up the largest reservation in the United States. It is believed that the Navajo were the first Native America Tribe to learn the art of silversmith, and they also use the “White Buffalo Turquoise” in their jewelry making (when it’s available) it’s a very rare stone and the mines are drying up so it can bring a pretty hefty price.
Care and Cleaning:
You should never submerge in water or cleaners since the stones are not prong set they could become loose. This also applies to the ultra-sonic cleaners. Just use a silver polishing cloth or a spray on silver cleaner. Just spray on and wipe off. It’s fine to use an old toothbrush to get into small areas. To help keep the silver from turning black you may want to consider a jewelry box with the anti-tarnish lining in it. This will insure that your Native American Jewelry will look great for years. It's an investment not only in the jewelry but a piece of our American past that we need to preserve.
