Want An Affordable, Artistic Option For Your Jewelry Collection:

By Author: Snowbirdjewelers
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Native American and Southwestern Jewelry offers the buyer a casual taste of the southwest as well as an option for wearable art. It is most appreciated for the talent of the silversmiths and lapidary artists and is evidenced in the finished product. Turquoise and sterling silver are the main ingredients that many collectors search for. However, modern artists use a variety of material ranging from turquoise to opal. Some of the finest artists in the world are among the Native American Indians from the Gallup, New Mexico region.

Navajo and Zuni craftsmen produce the majority of jewelry ranging from rings, bracelets, buckles, watches, bolo ties, money clips, necklaces, pendants, earrings, concho belts, etc. Oftentimes you will find that families work together and have their own trademark designs. Generally, the Zuni craftsmen are most adherent to the origin of design passed on from previous generations. You don’t often see two families producing the same exact medium. The styles range from channel inlay to extremely fine picture inlay work, such as delicate bird designs. Other Zuni artists use techniques described ...
... as Needlepoint and Petit Point. These are particularly painstaking in time and implementation. Each and every setting is hand cut into slivers that are then set individually to create a wearable masterpiece! These are just some examples of Zuni tradition that collectors can count on.

The Navajo silversmith and lapidary artist is forever evolving. Some Navajo artists choose to stick to traditional styles such as large stones and elaborate silver work. Others choose to work in inlaid settings that are often confused with Zuni inlay. Collectors are aware of the differences in style. Navajo inlay is very contemporary and appeals to modern collectors who prefer sleek craftsmanship. Hopi jewelry is available but rare. They are very careful not to saturate the market. Their designs generally reflect their cultural values and are timeless. The modern Hopi craftsman is highly sophisticated with their hand cut designs. Hopi jewelry is described as overlay in which two sheets of silver are fused together. The top layer is cut into the featured design and the bottom layer is etched and oxidized to dramatized the top design.

You can find various works of art at snowbirdjewelers.com. We offer jewelry to casual and serious collectors and everything in between! We strive to appeal to the traditionalists as well as eclectic jewelry buyers. Born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico, we have the ability to offer competitive pricing. We are third generation traders with deep roots in this industry with the ability to buy direct.

For more information about Silver and turquoise Jewelry , please visit http://www.snowbirdjewelers.com