Native American turquoise jewelry is iconic to the Southwest, and the Navajo, in particular, favor turquoise for its beauty and deep spiritual meaning. Turquoise is a stone of happiness, good fortune, health, and wealth.
Native American jewelry is not limited to featuring just turquoise; Zuni silversmiths, especially, often work with a myriad of other beautiful semi-precious stones. Each of these brings its own qualities, metaphysical properties, and spiritual meaning to the jewelry it adorns.
Let’s look at the metaphysical properties of some of these stones.
Jet
This black organic “stone” derives from ancient trees, is easy to carve, and is sometimes called “lignite”. Abundant in the energy of Mother Earth, jet is a high-vibrational, grounding stone that draws negative energies from the aura and acts as a purifier. It has been used across the world as a “mourning stone” to assist with navigating grief for hundreds of years. The ancient Romans used it for protection against negativity, malicious spirits, and the “evil eye”, and it is said to bring good luck to those who wear or carry it. The Navajo and Pueblo tribes have mined and used Acoma jet for at least 500 years.
Onyx
A powerful (usually black) stone of protection, wisdom, and balance, onyx supports willpower, focus, and strength and provides a forward push in life. Wearing or carrying onyx helps shield the aura, ground oneself to the Earth, and connect with the higher realms to channel one’s dreams and desires. It has been used for centuries as a talisman during childbirth. Onyx carries calming energy that is great for learning, decision-making, and during recovery.
Red Coral
This organic gem is of the ocean. It has a beautiful energy and represents protection, life force, water, and vitality; it also symbolizes the strength of blood. A powerful, sacred item, red coral was traditionally used in tribal ceremonies to evoke spirits and have prayers heard. It is believed to help soothe turbulent emotions and maintain focus; its energy is both spiritual and practical. It is a great stone for business owners.
Spiny Oyster Shell/Spondylus
Another organic marine stone, spiny oyster shell (spondylus) is a deeply spiritual, protective stone of strength and emotional healing. Red, orange, or yellow, it connects one profoundly to the day’s transition, especially twilight and the setting sun. It has been a sacred trade item between coastal tribes and the southwestern tribes (including the Zuni) for more than 10,000 years.
Pink Mussel Shell
Of high value to the Zuni people and widely used to make animal fetishes, Pink Mussel shell is associated with feminine energy, love, gentle strength, and compassion. It connects the wearer with nature and offers spiritual protection.
Lapis Lazuli
Treasured worldwide for millennia, including by the Zuni, deep blue lapis lazuli is a “royalty” stone of spiritual insight and growth, wisdom, truth, mental clarity, and protection. It provides a sacred link between the physical realm and the heavens. One of the most anciently used stones by humans, it emboldens communication and strengthens the throat and heart, heightens intellect, and helps to expand the mind. It helps open the Third Eye for truth-seeking and inspires confidence, self-acceptance, independence, and courage.
Malachite
Vibrant in both color and energy, malachite is a powerful green stone of transformation and vitality. It has a bold energy that is associated with renewal, growth, self-confidence, and emotional healing; like some other stones, it protects against negativity and the Evil Eye. It helps one avoid confrontation and maintain willpower and emotional balance. It helps open the heart to love and awakens a thirst for knowledge, enabling fast, positive decision-making.
Gaspeite
The use of this rare, apple-green colored stone became popular in Zuni and Navajo Native American jewelry in the 1970s. It is a stone of self-discovery, release, and spiritual growth, and it encourages its wearer to break bad habits, release emotional baggage, connect with the Earth, and it helps one navigate inner emotional work.
Sugilite
This vibrant, violet-purple stone represents emotional healing, hope, acceptance, and spiritual love, and enhances inner peace and spiritual awareness. It encourages its wearer to live in the present moment, be true to oneself, feel free, celebrate one’s unique qualities, and love wisely and happily. Offering powerful protection, it helps dissolve fear and let go of negativity and society’s expectations. In the 1970s, it was traded under the name “lavulite”. Sugilite is a rare stone and particularly prized by contemporary Zuni artisans; it provides a stunning visual contrast when paired with turquoise.
Other stones used in Zuni jewelry include clam shell, fossilized ivory, and lab opal.
Zuni Jewelry at Indian Traders
The abovementioned stones feature in countless sterling silver pieces available at Indian Traders. Our Zuni jewelry uses genuine stones and is authentically Native American “Indian Hand Made”. Every piece sold helps support the artist and their community.
Just a few examples include:
· Zuni Multi-Stone Channel Inlay Bracelet by The Booquas (turquoise, spiney oyster, sugilite, & oyster shell)
· Zuni Pink Mussel Shell Channel Inlay Earrings by Geral Quewtawki
· Zuni Red Coral Inlay Bracelet by Derrick and Lorelia Chavez
· Multi-Color Zuni Bracelet by Derrick and Lorelia Chavez (turquoise, jet, red coral, pink mussel shell, sugilite, malachite, lapis lazuli, clam shell, spiney oyster, gaspeite)
· Zuni Owl Pin/Pendant by Reginda Kallestewa (turquoise and shell)
· Fossilized Ivory Inlay Bracelet by Sheldon Lalio
· Lab Opal Inlaid Earrings by Carmichael Haloo
· Zuni Jet Earrings by Sara Bowannie
· Zuni Yellow Clam Shell Inlay Flower Stud Earrings
And we have SO MUCH MORE! Browse our catalog now.