AZ Indian Jewelry

About Navajo Tribe and Jewelry

Navajo are a set of tribal people who migrated to southwest America around 600 years ago. They are one of the largest tribes of Native Americans. Initially, they were herders and farmers. Later they developed skills of silver smithing and evolved into one of the excellent jewelry designers with the association of the Spaniards.

Today, Navajo handmade jewelry is very popular and are made of various materials such as; turquoise, silver, malachite, lapis lazuli, etc. Usage of various oyster shells and onyx are also seen in these jewels. Some of the Navajo handmade jewelry includes necklaces, tobacco flasks, bracelets, buckles, hair jewelry, earrings, bolos, and even pins.

Initially, the materials used for the jewelry were only the ones that were easily available in the locality of the tribe. Later slowly designs and materials have evolved according to the development of the technology and exposure of the people and currently various types of materials and gemstones are being used.

However, regardless of the transformation of technology and designs, the demand for handmade jewelry has not come down. The Navajo jewelry is still mostly handcrafted to meet the demands.

Specialty Designs of Navajo Handmade Jewelry:

There are numerous exquisite patterns of Navajo Jewelry such as; symbols of nature and animals, as well as historical figures. The energy of the tribe is reflected in each of the pieces projecting their lifestyle. There are extraordinary artworks that portray the culture and history of the Navajos.

Atsidi Sani was the first silversmith of the Navajo tribe who later trained his sons in the same field. Tommy Singer is another popular silversmith. The most popular feature of the Navajo handmade jewelry is using beads. The quantity and quality of beads present in the jewelry indicates the wealth, authority, and status of the owner.

The key specialty of Navajo jewelry is that both men as well as women can wear these and the options are endless.

Popular Models of Navajo Handmade Jewelry:

The most significant beads, which are a part of the Navajo culture, are the Wampun beads and Heishi beads.

Heishi beads are one of the oldest versions found in New Mexico. These beads are found in the shape of small tubes and discs and are made of polished stones and organic shells. The word Heishi means ‘shell necklace’. It takes 2 days to 2 weeks to make these Heishi into strings and these are really smooth. Heishi strings made of corals, turqoise, lapis, and carnelians, are very popular.

Wampum beads are considered very sacred and are quite old. These were earlier made of shells and are currently made of gemstones. At times Wampun beads are made using coins too. These are made from various materials that includes whelk shells, quahog with purple and white heads, or clam shells that are really hard.

Naja Sets are another popular types, which were borrowed from Spaniards and these Navajo handmade jewelry were made of coins, metal, silver, or beads and have various designs such as; flowers, beans, and snakes.

Squash blossom necklace is another popular model, which is said to be a modification of the Naja sets. These have ornate designs made of shell and turquoise. These also contain designs of sacred animals.

Summary:

Navajo handmade jewelry is truly a wonderful collection of artwork that is very affordable with huge range of collections for both men and women.

Zuni jewelry is one of the finest hand made jewelry made today.

The Zuni make beautiful inlay jewelry. This jewelry takes a lot of creativity, effort and a great deal of skill. It doesn’t matter what kind of jewelry you are looking for. The Zuni make every type of jewelry there is. They craft bracelets, necklaces, pendants, rings and even watches. You can also get a beautiful pair of earrings. The jewelry can be found in southwestern states or online.

Zuni rings are made with the inlay feature. They are often designed with turquoise, coral or opal. If you want a ring for your man it will have less design and more silver. It is a little heavier but more masculine in the long run. Zuni watches are also made for men and women. A Zuni silversmith makes the watches. Some of the stones used are malachite, turquoise and onyx. If you wear one everyone will be throwing compliments your way. There is only one drawback to the watches. They are a bit heavy.

Next, we will take a look at adorning your neck. You can choose a great necklace, pendant or both. The Zuni are noted for crafting fine beaded necklaces. They also make stone carvings of bears, foxes or other animals. These go rather nicely on the necklaces. Some of the inlay on the necklaces is from turquoise, red coral and malachite. A Zuni pendant is the perfect partner for your necklace. The inlay is made from some unique materials. The Zuni craft pendants with multi-colored oyster shells, variscite and gaspeite. Some of the more common necklaces are made with coral and turquoise.

To complete your look you may want to check out a pair of earrings. They will finish off your Zuni ensemble. Besides using the usual turquoise and other shells, they are known to use pink shell and onyx to enhance their sterling silver earrings.

Some great accessories for the man in your life can be a nice money clip or a belt buckle. The belt buckles not only have the stones, they also have designs that can be anything from an eagle to a horse. Your loved one will not be disappointed.
So if you are looking for the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one, check online today. You will find reasonable prices. For all the handmade work that is done on your selected piece you will be happy with the price. There are also some sites that offer codes to get a better deal. Some of the sites will also offer free shipping.

Last but not least you need to make sure that your Zuni jewelry is real. They are not immune to the business of people making knock offs. The first thing you can do is ask for a certificate of authenticity when you make your purchase. You can also make sure that they are the member of an association. This way you know that you have genuine hand crafted jewelry. You certainly want to make sure you get what you paid for.