When we think about Native American jewelry, turquoise is generally what predominantly springs to mind. While Native American turquoise jewelry is indeed prevalent amongst the pieces produced by Navajo silversmiths, other stones are also widely used, especially by Zuni artisans.
Let’s take a look at some of the other stones used in Native American bracelets, necklaces, money clips, and other pieces crafted by the talented Zuni and Navajo silversmiths in the Southwest.
SPINY OYSTER
Spiny Oyster or Spondylus is a marine mollusk, which is an animal that lives in warm ocean water. It is abundant in the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Mexico and also found along coastlines across the world. Its shell has rough bumps or ridges that protrude and give the shell a spiky, spiny appearance.
The inside of the Spiny Oyster shell is most beautiful and, therefore, popular for use in jewelry-making. The “stone” is believed to offer protection, strength, balance, and emotional healing and, with its spiritual connection to the sea, offer a calming and cleansing quality and flowing energy.
Navajo, Zuni, and other Pueblo peoples have used spiny oyster shell for thousands of years and, to the ancient Native American people, it was more valuable than silver or gold. Vibrant in color, and used for decorative and ceremonial purposes, only elders and Shamans were historically allowed to wear it. It was also used in ancient pottery, and has been found in burial sites that date back 8000 years.
Spiny oyster may also be combined with other natural products to create synthetic stones such as Kingman Mohave (a composite of Kingman (Arizona) turquoise and spiny oyster held together with high-quality jeweler’s resin).
JET
A deep black stone, jet is a type of lignite. Unlike many other gemstones, jet is not a mineral (grown slowly underground) but organic and derived from wood (trees) that decomposed millions of years ago; it is a type of brown coal.
Found in diverse locations throughout the world and used by humans for millennia, jet was being mined and used by Navajo and Pueblo tribes in New Mexico well before Spanish explorers first reached the Southwest in the 1500s. Now known as Acoma jet, these jet deposits were used to make jewelry and to decorate weapons.
Jet looks similar to some other stones sometimes used in Native American jewelry, including onyx, obsidian, black tourmaline, and Apache Tear:
· Obsidian is a type of non-mineral volcanic glass.
· Apache Tear is a type of obsidian that forms differently and is slightly less glassy.
· Onyx is a weighty, dense mineral stone that has a dull finish but polishes well.
· Black Tourmaline contains some iron; it also polishes quite well.
All these black stones are considered to be protective and grounding. Jet has gentler energy; obsidian has a fiery, powerful energy. Apache Tear is gentle and good for working through grief and emotionally cleansing. Onyx is good for stability, strengthening, grounding, and boosting willpower. Black tourmaline is good for not-too-intense purification and neutralizing negativity.
LAPIS
Lapis, or lapis lazuli, is an intensely bold blue stone that has been prized all over the world since ancient times. In the USA, it is mined only in California and Colorado.
Used traditionally by Pueblo tribes, lapis is believed to enhance spiritual growth, mental clarity, intuition, and is associated with truth and wisdom.
JADEITE
This rare mineral is extremely hard and durable. It can vary widely in color, of almost any shade of green, and has been used by humans since the Stone Age, including by Native Americans from British Columbia to Mexico, Central America, and Peru. It was perhaps most notably mined in Guatemala and used by the Maya, Olmec, and indigenous peoples of Costa Rica. Jadeite is a stone of prosperity as well as access to the spiritual realm, especially in the dream state.
CORAL
Favored for its beautiful colors, with hues from the palest pink to deep red, coral is another natural “stone” that comes from the sea and is popular in Native American jewelry. From inlays to cabochons and even beads, coral is believed to bring its wearer vitality, strength, and protection.
Other marine offerings for Native American jewelry include abalone and shell.
JASPER
Highly polishable, jasper is a solid, opaque variety of quartz with a smooth surface. Red jasper is commonly used in Native American jewelry and for ceremonial offering purposes. It was used by some tribes for guidance when dowsing for water and considered to be a “rain bringer”.
Bumblebee Jasper is an uplifting stone with vibrant hues of black, gray, and yellow. It inspires creativity, enthusiasm, and vitality. Another beautiful option is White Feather Jasper with its neutral, soothing hues of black and white.
WILD HORSE TURQUOISE
Not technically turquoise at all, Wild Horse (sometimes called “White Horse”) is a unique magnesite stone found only in Arizona near the Globe copper mine. Its distinctive patterning is said to resemble a wild horse’s coat markings. A powerful stone, it enhances one’s connection to and harmony with the natural world and brings its wearer freedom and strength.
Browse our complete range and find the unique piece that speaks to you! No matter your favorite color or style, there is a spectacular piece of Native American jewelry at Indian Traders with your name on it!