The American Indian jewelry business has it beginnings in the mid 1800's. At the time when the various tribes were confined to reservations, it became apparent, in the Southwestern reservations, that the Indians needed a profession. There were some weavers and some other artifact craftsmen. The idea of a more salable line of products seemed the best way to go.

The idea of personal jewelry came to the forefront. The Indian people were wearing bright beaded clothing and feathers. In the spring time flowers from squash and other blooming plants were worn or given to loved ones.

The development of a profitable cottage industry became a priority. The solution was bringing in Spanish and Mexican silversmiths to teach the people the trade. The early silver jewelry was made from Mexican or US coin silver. the tools used were rather crude, a hammer, chisel were foremost. The early Indian jewelry was nothing like the jewelry of today. Most of the early jewelry was heavy and large. Time has advanced the quality and appearance of modern Indian jewelry. Some of the American Indian artist's work is as good as the much more acclaimed jewelry makers.

The use of turquoise with silver was a natural combination. The Indians had used turquoise for personal adornment for many many years so it became number one for jewelry use. Turquoise is considered to be a good luck stone by many Indian folks. Many American Indians have a nugget of turquoise in their medicine bag. To others it is simply pretty in an area where most of the natural colors are earth tones. The other stones that have come to be used with silver were coral, abalone, oyster shell, and mussel shell. Yes, the Indian had sea shells and knew of the oceans. There was an extensive trading network across North American prior to the arrival of the white man. As time went on, other semi precious stones became popular. Some of the other stones are malachite, lapis, and jett. In the last few years more imported stones have appeared; such as gaspeite, charoite, sugilite, amber, and amethyst. Today if you have a favorite stone it may be found in American Indian jewelry..
The turquoise in these pendants may be from Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico, Utah, Idaho, California, Nevada, and China; possibly other countries such as Africa and Chili.
The stones may be natural, stabilized, blocked, and otherwise treated to assure the lucky owner of the best possible appearance and durability. The mounting are Sterling Silver, and will be marked sterling silver or 92.5, which is the US required percentage of silver, in the jewelry, to be certified as Sterling silver. There are some pieces of indian made jewelry that are not marked at all; this can be reservation made, or the artist just didn't have stamps. A knowledgeable dealer can normally tell which is or isn't the real McCoy.
The styles may be Navajo or Zuni; Hopi artists normally do not use stones in their jewelry.
There are other indian jewelry making artists that make southwestern style jewelry, in the Navajo and Zuni styles, and of course their own American Indian jewelry and southwestern jewelry styles.
The younger artists have ventured from the traditional styles and other colored stones.
This web site will endeavor to show only southwestern turquoise, Mexican turquoise, Chinese turquoise, also from United States mines, such as Sleeping Beauty, Manassa, Dry Creek, White Buffalo, Hitachi, New Mine, Bisbee, Turquoise Mountain, Kingman, plus too many more to list. This web site is composed of pendants, all indian pendants, made by native americans, and are great examples of southwestern jewelry.
The turquoise from the various mines are usually identified by their color and matrix pattern characteristics, however, there can be turquoise from different mines that have the same colors, etc.
The descriptions and mine indicated descriptions, used on this page, are derived from the personal knowledge of the owners of American Indian Jewelry;also from the advise and information obtained for several reservation area old timers.
 

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