Native Jewelry

A lot of people often find themselves frustrated by the so called “rules” of fashion. People often say, for example, that you shouldn’t mix a brown belt with black shoes. Or perhaps they warn against jeans that don’t contain any back pockets. To the people that don’t follow fashion carefully, all of these rules can feel arbitrary and random. And one of these rules applies to sterling silver.

As such, you’re not supposed to mix silver and gold pieces of jewelry. So according to this rule, your sterling silver earrings should never be matched with your gold wedding band. But the good things about these rules are that the truly fashion forward minds can bend and break the rules in innovative and creative ways. That’s why so many jewelers have made a concerted effort to create one piece of jewelry that incorporates both silver and gold elements. I like to include a lot of pieces that accentuate the gemstone, not the band or chain, such as turquoise necklaces. By breaking this longstanding rule, the result is often something unique and innovative.

While relations between white Americans and American Indians haven’t always been peaceful and pleasant, the two cultures have undoubtedly influenced each other in a number of ways. Settlers learned much of what they knew about skilled horsemanship and crafts from the Native Americans who came before. In turn, some Indians were moved to renounce their faith in pagan deities and embrace the Christian monotheism.

Nowhere is the link between the two cultures more apparent than the world of jewelry, where silver and turquoise pieces bear the stamp of time-honored tradition. Native American watches feature the proud faces of cowboys, Indians and other iconic figures of the fabled Old West. They should be appreciated by historians, collectors and watch enthusiasts alike.

While wristwatches could still be deemed practical, they are becoming an overwhelmingly aesthetics-driven accessory. These days people are engaged in texting or surfing the Internet on their iPhones and BlackBerries; with a digital clock sitting right in front of one’s face, who needs a real timepiece? Of course there’s a charm about analog clocks that a sterile set of digital numbers just can’t match.

It’s also nice to have a fashion accessory to highlight one’s wrist. Turquoise watches are especially tasteful – the subtle stones complement a sterling silver band with natural elegance. Wristwatches serve as a conversation piece. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask a stranger for the time, and from there you might strike up a conversation about the style of watch he or she is wearing.

I don’t put much stock in discussions about signs of the zodiac or other superstitious topics. Still, I’ve always believed in the idea that the appropriate birthstone can take a woman’s jewelry to the next level. In my case, the month is December and the stone is turquoise. Coincidentally or not, turquoise is my favorite color, and my boyfriend knows that a necklace or bracelet bearing those blue-green stones is a can’t-miss gift.

Over the years, I’ve collected turquoise rings in various states of luster and quality. The finest specimens I’ve seen were mined in Iran, but the stones from the American Southwest come in at a close second. Indians once believed that turquoise held mystical protective powers that would serve them well in battle; for me, the stone holds the promise of a fun, flashy night on the town.

Historical accounts tell us that Indians have been crafting and trading jewelry in the Western Hemisphere for centuries. Those indigenous to the American Southwest gained an especially lofty reputation for designing jewelry, but what made them stand a cut above the rest? For one thing, the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and other local tribes were not nomads; they lived in fully functional villages and had domesticated animals and abundant water sources. These conveniences allowed them time to perfect their jewelry-making techniques.

Raw materials were also prevalent in the Southwest, including the turquoise that would be gathered and fashioned into cosmetic adornments. American Indian turquoise jewelry is still widely touted today as being the pinnacle of that art form. Each individual piece carries with it the proud tradition of the craftsmen who came before.

If you’re looking for an understated way to wear Native American jewelry, look for a ring that suits your personality and personal style. You can find handcrafted rings featuring amethyst, white opal, onyx, malachite, lapis, azurite, turquoise and other stones set in sterling silver or gold, giving you endless options for a unique look. Turquoise is perhaps the most distinctive gem that’s associated with Native American jewelry, and its blue-green hue looks great with sterling silver. In the fifteenth century, the Pueblo Indian tribes of the American southwest began making turquoise and silver rings with the arrival of the Spanish to the New World. The Spanish taught Natives how to work with silver and they became proficient silversmiths.

If you choose a turquoise ring from the wide selection of Native American rings available, make sure to take special care of it. Turquoise is very sensitive to solvents, so perfume, jewelry cleaners, cosmetics and skin oils can attack the finish and alter the color of the gem. Direct sunlight can also discolor turquoise, so don’t wear your turquoise ring to the beach or another place where you’ll be in the sun. To clean your ring, wipe the turquoise gently with a soft cloth and store it in its own container to avoid it being scratched by harder gems.

In the hot summertime, nothing is cooler than wearing white clothes. The darker your clothes are, the hotter you will be because your dark clothes will absorb heat. White clothes, on the other had, reflect sunlight, and also just look cute in the summer. Turquoise jewelry looks especially striking and summery when worn with white clothing, so invest in some handmade Native American turquoise jewelry for the summer.

To really allow your jewelry to stand out, dress simply and let your turquoise jewelry make a statement. Try a white v-neck T-shirt and a denim skirt with a beautiful turquoise necklace, bracelet or ring. This look especially works with extra large pieces of jewelry, since the outfit is simple enough that the jewelry doesn’t overwhelm it. If you have blue eyes, a large turquoise necklace will make them look brighter and more vibrant, surely drawing compliments from all your friends. And no matter what, your turquoise jewelry will always be unique – no two turquoise stones are exactly the same and the natural streaks, lines and markings that you see on any given stone will set it apart from any other.

Throughout history, there have been many superstitious beliefs surrounding the origin of earrings, which include Post Earrings. According to legend, evil spirits had the ability to enter the body through any of its openings and take control of it; therefore, the first pair of earrings was probably worn to prevent these spirits from entering ones body. Another story of folklore regarding pierced earrings was that they would help to improve poor eyesight. One gold earring and one silver earring when worn together by an individual could cure headaches. Pirates and sailors wore one earring if they had survived a shipwreck. Some historians believe piercing was done to punish someone for eavesdropping, and the earring was inserted as a consolation for pain and suffering.
In 2500 B.C., only those who had wealth or royal lineage could afford expensive jewelry. During the Dark Ages and Middle Ages, women were most often too poor to own earrings, and up until the end of the Renaissance Period, earrings were looked upon as inappropriate for proper women. Today, post earrings are the perfect finishing touch to any outfit and make a fashion statement. There are post earrings for all occasions, including work, the board room, casual outings, formal occasions, or a day at the beach.

The collection of Post Earrings includes gemstones of Turquoise, Coral, and Opal as well as other stones which are included in a great collection of turquoise jewelery. The mineral Turquoise is a copper aluminium phosphate with a hardness of 6, which is softer than quartz. When found in its natural state, it occurs in a range of hues from sky blue to grey-green, and its found in places where there is a high concentration of copper in the soil. Turquoise is only really considered turquoise in the very best quality when the color is paler, bluish-green, or greenish. Blue turquoise is created by copper, green turquoise by bivalent iron and a certain amount of chrome. Turquoise occurs in the mines in veins, crevices, or in the form of nuggets. The largest deposits are in the USA, Mexico, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan, and China.

To Native Americans, the eagle embodied not only ferocity but also purity, for it flew high in the atmosphere, where the air was clearest - and where, in the belief of many Indians, the Great Spirit resided. Those who wished to ask something of the Great Spirit sometimes sent their message by way of the eagle spirit. Some believe birds to be symbols of the soul, as well as intermediaries to the gods. Seeking their cooperation, Native Americans have plied bird spirits with offerings and performed dances to honor and beseech them. Pleas are sent skyward in the smoke of burning tobacco. Feathers are often considered the most potent part of the bird and are passed down as cherished symbols of the power bestowed by those creatures that soar in the lofty realms where many of the gods dwell.

It is really no wonder then that Native American Earrings feature eagles in one form or another

Calcified skeletons of sea creatures that grow in formations resembling the branches of a tree are called coral. Coral is used to create jewelry, and it comes from the Mediterranean Sea or from the Pacific Ocean near Taiwan and Japan. Coral ranges in color from white to red. The most valuable colors of coral are red, black, and pink, which is known as angel skin coral. There are several types of precious coral. Although Red corals are most common in jewelry, coral can be found naturally in a variety of colors including blacks and golds. Coral is produced in warm, shallow coastal areas by tiny marine animals and can be found in many places. Jewelry grade coral usually comes from the Mediterranean Sea, Hawaii, or China and is increasingly rare due to large efforts to protect the worlds Coral Reefs. Coral is known to be used as a gem since prehistoric times and has gained a reputation for having powers of healing and protection. Red coral was believed to change color according to one’s health, but only if the stone was not fashioned by man. Strings of coral were considered a gift of royal proportion in parts of Africa. It was also popular as a gem in the Egyptian and Roman empires who believed in its curative powers. Coral jewelry, such as post earrings, has been made in many parts of the world, used for adornment since prehistoric times, and coral inlays date back to the Iron Age.