Native American Jewelry Buyers Guide

Connoisseurs prize Native American jewelry not only for its great good looks but also for the way in which it reflects the history and traditions of the artisans who create it. People who purchase this jewelry, however, need to know what they're getting.

Identifying Authentic Native American Jewelry

Some Native American jewelry that looks authentic is really just a clever imitation. Here are some ways to tell the difference.

1. Price - authentic Native American jewelry will usually command a high price. Less expensive pieces, even when crafted by Native Americans, are usually novelty items.
2. Materials - native American artisans use only the finest materials in creating their works of art. Expect to find sterling silver and fine gemstones in the best of them.
3. Appearance - if any particular piece looks cheaply made, it probably is. Fine Native American jewelry will demonstrate a certain stability that says it was made to last.
4. Artist's Hallmark - the Native American artisan who takes pride in his work will usually stamp each piece with his hallmark. Jewelry that is missing this mark may or may not be authentic.
5. Certificate of Authenticity - a reputable seller will provide the buyer with a certificate of authenticity stating his business' full name, address, and phone number. It should also include the name of the artist and the tribe with which he is affiliated.

Handmade vs. Handcrafted Native American Jewelry

Although most use the two terms interchangeably, some feel there is a distinct difference between handmade and handcrafted Native American jewelry. The distinction, if it actually exists, concerns the materials used in their construction. Proponents of this philosophy believe that, for any piece of jewelry to receive a handmade classification, the artisan who created it must have used nothing but raw materials in its construction. If a certain piece of jewelry incorporates such prefabricated elements as clasps and hooks, they consider it handcrafted, not handmade.

Common Native American Jewelry-Making Tribes

Those in the know can tell by looking exactly which group of Native Americans crafted a particular piece of jewelry. Each type possesses its own distinctive characteristics.

Native American Jewelry of the Hopi

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish silversmiths, early Hopi Indian jewelry was crafted from nothing more than turquoise, shells, stones, wood, and seeds. Since the 1930s, though, the Hopis have gained particular recognition for their signature style: silver overlays. This understated jewelry begins with a sheet of oxidized silver. The Hopis finely emboss this sheet with hammers and chisels and top it with another layer into which they have cut an intricate design. After soldering the two pieces together, they normally polish the finished piece with steel wool until they have achieved a satiny sheen.

Native American Jewelry of the Navajo

Navajo Indian jewelry usually announces its showy presence by a heavy use of silver combined with large pieces of turquoise. The large proportion of silver to stone is a good indication that the jewelry is almost certainly of Navajo origin. Navajo artisans also make inlay jewelry, but their version of this style normally displays a heavier and rougher aspect than that created by other tribes. Most of their silver bracelets and belt buckles feature a satiny finish, and the background of their silver overlays normally displays a heavier texture compared to that found in their Hopi counterparts.

Native American Jewelry of the Santo Domingo Pueblo

The Santo Domingos were the first to create inlaid mosaic designs. Today, Santo Domingo Indian jewelry often features shells and authentic turquoise imbedded in sterling silver. They are also famous for rolling ground shells and turquoise into heishi beads in the tradition of their ancestors. The Santo Domingo Indians rarely stamp their work with a hallmark, so their highly prized jewelry can be hard to identify.

Native American Jewelry of the Zuni

The Zuni Indians take pride in the intricacy of their stonework and the relatively light and open aspect of their jewelry's silver components. Zuni Indian jewelry will often feature a centrally positioned turquoise surrounded by one or more other types of stone. Any Native American jewelry incorporating elaborate inlay work or clusters of finely cut stones is probably of Zuni origin.

Popular Materials Used in Native American Jewelry

Artisans who specialize in authentic Native American jewelry almost always utilize materials that occur naturally in the environment.

• Materials From the Earth - Various metals, hardwoods, stones, shells, and vegetable fibers.
• Animal Products - Bones, hides, and teeth.
• Man-Made Objects - Quillwork and beadwork.

Silver

When thinking of Native American jewelry, many people immediately envision a bright turquoise stone surrounded by a band of shining silver. These artisans do favor silver for fashioning their jewelry, and that has been true since invading Spanish silversmiths first introduced their skills to the Americas. The quality of silver varies widely, and this can have a great effect on the price of the jewelry in which it is used. This chart will explain the differences.

Grade	Parts Silver	Parts Other Metals	Description
Sterling Silver	92.5	7.5	The FTC has decreed that any jewelry marked "silver" must be composed of sterling.
Coin Silver	90	10	Early Native Americans melted down American and Mexican coins to obtain the metal for crafting their jewelry.
German or Nickel Silver	0	100	This metal, composed of 60 parts copper, 20 parts nickel, and 20 parts zinc, is not really silver at all. However, some Southern Plains and Sioux tribes have traditionally worked with it, and many of them still do.

Turquoise

The bluish-green mineral known as turquoise is a byproduct of the copper mines. In the eyes of the Navajo and Apache tribes, the powers of turquoise will aid them in hunting wild animals and discovering sources of water. The colors of turquoise can vary. Varieties that are bluer in tone possess a greater purity and command a higher price. The less expensive turquoise stones contain some iron and have a greenish tint. Although many of these stones boast a uniformity of color, some contain gray or brown veining or spiderweb patterns that add to their value.

Men's Hoop Earrings - Tips for Buying Hoops for Him

Although men claim that their fashion hardly ever changes, history has shown that simply isn’t true. At one point, men used to wear hosiery and high heels. In today’s time, however, those are considered to be the domain of women. Men didn’t used to wear earrings and considered them to be a derogatory fashion statement. Again, today, that has all changed. Not only have men embraced earrings it is now unusual to see a man who is not wearing some kind of ear adornment. The most popular types of earrings worn by men today are diamond studs and mens hoop earrings.



If you are in a position where you have to buy earrings for a man, there are a few things to keep in mind. Even though a lot of men are wearing earrings today, they are not interested in being overt about as like women are. Unless they are into the piercing scene as some young men are, generally they like to keep the bling to a low level.




Therefore, if you purchase mens hoop earrings then you will want to get them small. Large ones will likely make him feel like a woman and he will not wear them.

Mens Fashion Earrings for Today’s Metrosexual Man

It is interesting how society changes. In the past, men conformed to the image of the macho man who was physically strong, didn’t cry, and wasn’t concerned with how he looked. Today, however, things have changed and society is calling for men to be very conscientious of how they dress and carry themselves. Some of this may be attributed to the internet but a lot of it may be changing genders rolls and the release of stereotypes about men and women. Whatever the reason more men than ever are wearing earrings as a way of enhancing their appearance. Here are a few tips for picking out mens fashion earrings.



The fashion for today’s metrosexual man when it comes to jewelry like earrings is to be understated as possible. The dangling earrings and large hoops that women wear are still considered to be girly. Therefore, when looking for mens fashion earrings, look for things that are small and unobtrusive. Stud earrings are popular for this exact reason. They sit in the ear but do not call attention to themselves. They augment the man’s appearance and give him a worldly air. At the same time, they are understated and do not make him look feminine.

Ann Urkov Jewelry

hAnn Urkov jewelry is very special indeed and the reasons for that are obvious. All of her pieces of jewelry are individually in creation by hand and no two pieces of jewelry are the exact same as the other. If you see a specific jewelry piece online, you will receive that piece. Because customer satisfaction comes first and a customer cannot help but be satisfied when they get an Ann Urkov original jewelry design.



Ann Urkov jewelry pieces are simply gorgeous wonders. They are made from freshwater pearls, precious and semi-precious gemstones, Swarovski crystal, gold-filled beads, sterling silver, and findings, which makes them what they sure to be in design. So only, the very best is what goes into this jewelry so that others can get the very best out of it when they adorn them.



Ann Urkov jewelry has a magical something about them. This magic will captivate the person who does either buy one of her designs as a gift for someone else or just for themselves personally. Does this magical thing come from the presence of the precious and semi-precious stones which are in saying to have magical qualities that are all distinctly their own. Every precious and semi-precious gemstone has its own allure and pull for those who appreciate them.

Important Qualities of Men's Bracelets

Men’s bracelets have a long history of use, dating back to the charm bracelets of ancient Egyptians and the decorated bracelets of ancient Greek and Latin civilizations. In modern urban society, men’s bracelets are increasingly becoming a part of men’s fashion and a variety of bracelets are available in attractive designs at most of the jewelry shops. However, men’s bracelets mostly differ from those of women in both ornamental detail and the overall build of the bracelet. Men’s bracelets tend to be simpler, studier, and less detailed than women’s bracelets. The choice of a particular men’s bracelet depends on individual taste but also on cultural influences and the customer’s budget for jewelry.



Bracelets have traditionally been associated with women of fashion for formal and casual wear. However bracelets have been worn by men since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Pharaohs of ancient Egypt wore charm bracelets, which were considered lucky and effective against evil forces. At that time, charm bracelets were also considered as indicators of a person’s prosperity in life. In the ancient Greek civilization, men’s bracelets were worn both by soldiers and laymen. Men’s bracelets of Geek and Latin civilizations were often decorated with precious stones.

In modern times, bracelets have become quite popular among men, especially young men, over the past few decades and today men’s bracelets are on the hot list of many fashion catalogues. Like women’s bracelets, men usually tend to wear bracelets to complement other jewelry items like a watch or a ring. The choice of men’s bracelets, however, differs from that of women’s in some regards.