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.
When we think of a watches, we think of a portable device that tells us the time, and sometimes needs a new battery. Though before these useful devices there was the pocket watch which needed to be kept wound but they were still portable. Though before these there was still another way of telling time and it used natural materials. This device was known as a sundial.
There are two known types of sundials. There is the natural sundials that were believed to be used by the Native Americans and the artificial which is what many of use have seen, the piece of metal that points to numbers. The natural sundial was used to remind the natives to take part in certain ceremonies or to tell them when the winter was coming. They would perhaps use a tree and a far of rock and when the shadows reached the rock then that ment that they were to go to sleep or go out on a hunt. This was the beginning of the movement towards watches. So we have them to thank for the creation of beautiful turquoise watches that now bless our society.
Over the years watches have changed for better, from simple pocket watches to extravagant pieces of art. Where the pieces are worn has also changed, they went from going into pockets of vests to being placed on wrist bands.
Now we enjoy such luxuries as digital watches but nothing says sophisticated like a beautiful analog watch on your wrist. Also held within that piece of art is an intricate working of gears that allow you to make it to your meetings on time.
Thanks to its uniquely beautiful hue, the bluish green mineral ornamental stone is priced as a gem. This beautiful stone is too soft, thus, it is treated and combined with resin before it can be used. But it has been widely used for making jewelry since as early as 200 B.C. by the Native Americans.
Among the many striking qualities associated with turquoise jewelry is that it brings good luck. The gem is also said to relieve the mind of stressful thoughts. Native beliefs include the gem’s change in color whenever there’s danger or whenever a relationship will be on shaky grounds.
Regardless of the truth of these beliefs about the stone, turquoise is undeniably one of the newest trends in jewelry particularly for the men. The color of the gem is so masculine that it has been used to make turquoise rings and bracelets for men. Another very popular turquoise jewelry item is the turquoise watch which is said to be a popular gift item for men.
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.
