How to Tell If Native American Jewelry Is Authentic (2024)

The popularity of Native American jewelry has sky-rocketed over the last few years, and it is highly sought after by collectors and fashion enthusiasts.

Native American jewelry is famed for its intricate design and exquisite patterns. It is created using time-honored traditions and techniques. Crafting Native American jewelry requires skill, patience, concentration, and originality. The intricate jewelry patterns illustrate Native American artists’ attention to details.

The timeless charm of Native American jewelry makes it irresistible. Every Native American jewelry piece shows exquisite craftsmanship. Some popular Native American jewelry styles include Native American rings, pendants, earrings, and cuff bracelets.

Unfortunately, the market is flooded with fake Native American Jewelry. In many cases, fakes are crafted with such high precision that they look real. This, however, does not mean that differentiating between fake and authentic Native American jewelry is impossible.

Follow these tips to find out if native American jewelry is authentic.

Check the Seller’s Inventory

Authentic Native American jewelry is handmade, meaning no two pieces are identical. Before you buy Native American jewelry, take a look at the seller’s inventory. If two or more pieces look identical, walk away.

Check Labels

Federal labeling laws were created to protect against counterfeiting to people seeking authentic Native American jewelry. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 states that the terms “Native American” and “Indian” can only be used to label products created by a member of a tribe or nation recognized by the state or federal government.

Labels used on many products read “Indian-style,” indicating that they were replicated elsewhere. Therefore, steer clear of such pieces. Ask the dealer to provide a guarantee of authenticity. You can also look for the artist’s signature. However, the absence of a signature does not necessarily mean that the piece is fake, as many artists do not always sign their work.

Evaluate Craftsmanship and Check the Quality of the Materials Used

Before buying a piece, inspect it to determine its quality. Take a close look at the design features. Authentic Native American jewelry does not have wavering lines. There is no visible glue between the metal and the stone, and stones used in Native American jewelry are accurately cut.

Native American artists use high-quality, naturally occurring materials such as precious gemstones and metals in their jewelry. Learn to distinguish between silver plated jewelry and sterling silver jewelry. To find out whether a piece is made of sterling silver, hold a small magnet to it. If the piece is attracted to the magnet, it is a sterling silver piece.

Watch out for items labeled “Mexican Silver,” “Alpaca Silver,” “Tibetan Silver,” or “Nickel Silver,” as such pieces contain very little or no real silver. If turquoise or other opaque stones are used in a piece, find out whether they are natural or have been altered to change their color and shape.

There are several ways to alter turquoise. It can be stabilized, dyed and ground up, and reconstituted. Some terms that indicate stones used in a piece were altered include “stabilized,” “block,” and “chip.” Stabilized, however, does not mean fake. Turquoise is a very soft stone and in most instances, needs to be stabilized with an epoxy to harden it.

It is not illegal to use altered stones in jewelry, provided that the manufacturer discloses the fact that they are not natural and does not label them as so.

Determine If the Artist Is Native American

The internet is flooded with con artists who masquerade as Native Americans. Most of the time, they claim their jewelry pieces are 100 percent authentic, but in reality, they are no match for genuine Native American jewelry.

If an artist self-identifies as Native American, check their tribal affiliation. Is it identified? Is the word used to identify the tribe correct? Is it spelled correctly? Native Americans typically use specific tribe names instead of generic terminology to identify themselves. So, if you come across an artist who uses a generic term such as Native American or American Indian, walk away.

Tribal identification is usually very specific. For example, instead of using the generic term Sioux- a confederacy of several tribes, people with this tribal affiliation usually use their tribe names such as Oglala Sioux or Rosebud Sioux to identify themselves. If possible, verify the clan relationships of artists as well.

Compare Prices

Every Native American jewelry piece is handcrafted. As a matter of fact, a piece showcases the artist’s signature style. Imitation jewelry, on the other hand, is mass produced in a factory. This explains why authentic Native American jewelry is more expensive than imitation jewelry. If the price of a jewelry piece being marketed as 100 percent authentic Native American jewelry is too good to be true, it probably is! Additionally, imported jewelry mass produced in factories usually costs 30-50 percent less than authentic Native American jewelry.

Buy From an Established Dealer

The best way to steer clear of imitation Native American jewelry is to buy from a reputable dealer. An experienced dealer will be able to answer any questions you might have about the artist, the piece, and unique Native American jewelry designing techniques.

Before buying from a dealer, check their reputation. Additionally, find out if there are any cases against them for selling counterfeit products. Check online reviews and visit their profiles on different social media sites to see what people are saying about them.

Palms Trading Company is one of the most trusted suppliers of authentic Native American jewelry. Every jewelry piece in our collection has been crafted to perfection. We have established personal relationships with the several Native American artists that we work with. We can guarantee the authenticity of every Native American jewelry piece we have for sale. To place your order, call 505-247-8504.

How to Tell If Native American Jewelry Is Authentic (2024)

FAQs

How to Tell If Native American Jewelry Is Authentic? ›

Authentic Native American jewelry does not have wavering lines. There is no visible glue between the metal and the stone, and stones used in Native American jewelry are accurately cut. Native American artists use high-quality, naturally occurring materials such as precious gemstones and metals in their jewelry.

How to tell if Native American jewelry is real? ›

Look at the Appearance

Authentic Native American jewelry is often handmade and exhibits the artist's unique touch. Look for irregularities and imperfections that are indicative of hand craftsmanship. Machine-made jewelry tends to be perfectly symmetrical, with uniform semi-precious stones and clear, unwavering lines.

Is all Native American jewelry marked? ›

Today, most Native American jewelry, hollowware and flatware is identified by artist's initials, names or symbols that are stamped or etched onto their creations. However, that has not always been the case. In the 1920s only a few Native Americans marked their work with their initial(s), name or personal symbol.

Is it inappropriate to wear Native American jewelry? ›

Native artists will only sell items that it's okay for you—whether you're Native or not—to wear. They will not sell regalia, sacred items or symbols, or other ceremonial pieces, so when you purchase an item from an actual Native artist you are getting a piece that's okay for you to wear, love, and proudly display.

How to value Native American jewelry? ›

Value will naturally be guided by several factors. These include the maker, the level of craftsmanship, the amount of silver used, condition, and age. In general, older is better and a prominent maker will always be more desirable than a lesser-known silversmith.

What are the two categories of Native American jewelry? ›

There are two main types of Inlay, stone-to-stone inlay and channel inlay. When the stones are shaped and worked to sit directly next to each other this is considered stone-to-stone inlay. The inlaid stonework is sometimes worked in-between metal channels that separate the stones from each other.

Is it illegal to sell Native American jewelry? ›

Products sold using a sign claiming "Native American Jewelry" would be a violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act if the jewelry was produced by someone other than a citizen, or certified Native artisan, of a Native Nation.

Is Native American jewelry legit? ›

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 is Pawn Native American jewelry? ›

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.

Is it bad to wear turquoise jewelry? ›

It's important to be careful when wearing this stone and to avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals, such as chlorine, perfume, and hand sanitizers. Turquoise can be set in any sort of accessory type, such as rings and pendants.

Why is Native American jewelry so expensive? ›

Its demand is greater than ever among collectors who want authentic jewelry that has actually been worn and coveted by the indigenous people who created it which is becoming scarcer and more valuable by the day. The Navajo had traditionally measured their wealth in terms of livestock and blankets.

Can white people wear indigenous earrings? ›

A common question beaders come across is, "Is it cultural appropriation for a non-Indigenous person to wear Indigenous-made beaded earrings?" No. This is widely shared view among Indigenous peers in the beading community. Purchasing Indigenous-made earrings shows support and deep reverence for Indigenous Peoples.

How can you tell if jewelry is native? ›

Authentic Native American jewelry does not have wavering lines. There is no visible glue between the metal and the stone, and stones used in Native American jewelry are accurately cut. Native American artists use high-quality, naturally occurring materials such as precious gemstones and metals in their jewelry.

How can I tell if my jewelry is worth anything? ›

We recommend taking the piece to a jeweler to be tested. They will have professional tests that will determine whether your jewelry is real as well as the purity of the metal itself. A certified appraiser will be able to provide the value of the piece as well.

What does CP 925 mean on jewelry? ›

When 925 is stamped on Jewellery it usually means the metal material is silver alloy. Sterling silver is usually 92.5 per cent pure silver and 7.5 percent copper, but other metal(s) are sometimes used in place of copper, for example nickel.

How do I verify Native American artifacts? ›

Having an official certificate from the IAGA will ensure the preservation of the artifact's provenance and historical information. The grade assigned, along with the classification, can be used to determine the approximate value and rarity of the artifact.

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