Native Jewelry

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.