Is turquoise Native American?

Legend says that the Native American Indians, who lived in harsh and arid conditions, danced and rejoiced when it rained. Their tears of joy mixed with the rain and seeped into Mother Earth to become Turquoise. Thus they referred to it as the 'fallen sky stone' or simply the 'sky stone'.

Did Native Americans use turquoise?

The most well-known use of turquoise in American Indian art and culture is in jewelry-making. Tribes fashioned the stone into wearable forms—necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings—so they could carry its powerful qualities with them. Turquoise jewelry was used widely in trade.

Where is turquoise Native to?

Turquoise has been mined all over North America for hundreds of years, but its richest deposits have always been found primarily in the southwestern states of Arizona and Nevada. California has also been a popular source of the opaque blue gemstone over the years, with mines found in San Bernardino and Inyo Counties.

What does turquoise mean to natives?

For some tribes, turquoise represented strength, skill, or even invincibility. The Apaches associated turquoise with rain at the end of the rainbow. They attached pieces to their bows to become precise and invincible hunters and warriors.

What tribe is turquoise?

The tribe of Navajo didn't just feature turquoise in their beautiful and iconic jewelry but began to associate it as a symbol for many things. The changing colors of the stone were seen as a way to determine the well-being of the wearer, as well as a means to restore vitality whenever it was needed.

Navajo Teachings: The Truth About Turquoise

What does turquoise mean to the Cherokee?

Native Americans believed that all things were alive. They thought that Turquoise was alive with positive energy, which aided mental functions and communication and acted as a protector. Many of these beliefs have endured to the present day.

Why is turquoise sacred to Navajo?

At its simplest, turquoise is simply a bringer of good fortune. The Navajo would store it in baskets or hang it from the ceilings to ward off evil in the home, and they would surround the exteriors of homes or graves with it for the same reason. Warriors would carry it to battle to ensure strength and protection.

Did the Cherokee wear turquoise?

In the coastal woodlands of the Carolina's native Americans also revered the color of turquoise. Cherokee Indians used indigo to dye their clothes the brilliant blue color and also to created jewelry and trading items.

How did Indians find turquoise?

Turquoise is found in arid regions where water seeps through natural rock and interacts with copper deposits, so it was plentiful in portions of the Southwest inhabited by Indians.

What tribe makes turquoise jewelry?

The main tribes who are responsible for most of the turquoise jewelry creation in the past – the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni – have made such an incredible contribution to this art form over the centuries.

What is Native American jewelry called?

Native American jewelry refers to items of personal adornment, whether for personal use, sale or as art; examples of which include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings and pins, as well as ketohs, wampum, and labrets, made by one of the Indigenous peoples of the United States.

Is turquoise a sacred stone?

Turquoise as a Stone of Hope

People everywhere have cherished turquoise, whether used as a decorative or protective amulet, a horse protector, or rain bringer. The blue stone with the cheeriness of the sunny sky has always been foremost a symbol of hope.

How can you tell if jewelry is Native American turquoise?

Hold a magnet to the piece. Silver doesn't magnetize, so if the jewelry responds to the magnet, it's probably silver-plated. Dealers are required by law to disclose whether the turquoise stone is natural or stabilized. Natural stones are the more desirable option, and their unaltered state will generally cost more.

What does a turquoise ring mean?

Turquoise has been a powerful stone for millennia, believed to represent heaven and offer good fortune, strength and empowerment to those who wear it. Many cultures believe turquoise can ward off the evil eye or foretell death, and the stone is also believed to offer protection against falls and accidents.

Is it okay to wear Native American jewelry?

In short, wearing Native patterns or jewelry is fine as long as you bought them from an actual Native designer. And if there's something that you really shouldn't be wearing — i.e. a headdress with special religious or tribal significance — the artist you're buying from will likely let you know.

How can you tell if jewelry is Navajo?

The size and patterns of the stones in your piece is another great way to help identify where it comes from. If your jewelry has lots of silver and large unshaped stones, there's a good chance it's a Navajo piece.

What is American turquoise?

American Turquoise is considered the most Valuable of Turquoise varieties in the world by most collectors. American Turquoise comes in all grades and colors. Many collectors love this fact about Turquoise from America.

What does Native American jewelry look like?

A genuine piece will have no wavering lines or lopsided designs, well-cut stones that are uniform in size, and no visible glue between the metal and stone. Also be on the lookout for sterling silver versus silver-plated jewelry. A quick way to tell the difference is to hold a small magnet to the piece.

What stone does Native American use?

After turquoise, coral is one of the most ubiquitous stones in American Indian jewelry making. It's found in the waters of the Mediterranean and made its way over to North America with the Europeans. Native Americans began incorporating it into their designs when colonists started using coral beads for trade.

Is Native American jewelry marked?

Older, genuine vintage Native American jewelry will often have no hallmark or stamp of any kind, and sometimes newer silver jewelry doesn't, either, but this is not the norm. Because it is a strong selling point, most modern artists will stamp their silver jewelry.

Where is turquoise jewelry made?

Jewelry with Turquoise and imitation Turquoise is now in demand pretty much globally and it is being heavily produced in China, the Philippines, Viet Nam, Korea, Egypt, Jordan, Mexico and beyond, however, most of this Turquoise Jewelry has very little value other than for the fashion market due to inferior materials ...

How do you authenticate turquoise?

The most effective way to identify real Turquoise is to do the scratch test. Howlite or other materials fake Turquoise is made from are softer stones than genuine Turquoise. Lightly use your nail to scratch a less visible part of the stone like the backside and if it scratches easily, it's howlite.

What does old pawn turquoise mean?

Old Pawn jewelry gets its name from its history. Starting in the early 1900s, pawning jewelry was a common practice between Native Americans and traders. Native Americans pawned jewelry in times of need, meaning most pieces were family heirlooms containing valuable turquoise and silver.

Can a non Native wear a ribbon skirt?

Ribbon Skirts are not only a distinct fashion piece to the non-indigenous eye but are also a historical and traditional form of identity among native women.