Western jewelry is an extremely distinctive American art form that is popular both in North America and across the globe, capturing and reflecting the rugged and rustic warmth, charm, and soul of the USA’s Southwest. It encapsulates the feeling of vast deserts, immersive sunsets, and majestic canyons, pueblos, horse culture, as well as the human traditions of Native peoples, Spanish/Mexican influences, and “cowboy core”.
The essence of this style of adornment lies in its characteristic use of:
• Sterling silver
• Copper
• Turquoise
• Leather
• Conchos
• Horsehair
• Feathers
• Arrows
• Beading
• Braiding
In particular, silver, leather, and natural stones feature heavily in items such as bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and belt buckles.
What is the Origin of Western Jewelry?
This iconic style has its roots in the fusion of Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi artistry with Spanish and Mexican silversmithing and the later influence of frontier culture. It borrows heavily from the Navajo and Zuni, with their use of turquoise and other semi-precious stones and their characteristic silver inlay and stamping techniques. Many Navajo and Zuni elements remain prominent in Western jewelery designs.
Western jewelry is not the same as Native American jewelry. Although designs and silversmithing methods, for example, are often inspired by Native craftsmanship and motifs, to be called “Native American jewelry”, it must be authentically Native made, by genuine indigenous people of the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, or other Native American nations and tribes.
It is both unethical and illegal to claim items made by a non-native person are “Native American”.
Western Jewelry at Indian Traders
We have a beautiful selection of Western jewelry instore at Indian Traders from some of the best artisans in the business.
Laura Ingalls
Laura Ingalls is a Wisconsin-based non-native artist who creates unique jewelry that’s inspired by her travels in the Southwest. She combines colors, textures, and patterns to create timeless, unique pieces, a lot of which are one-of-a kind.
We have a large selection of Laura’s jewelry in our online store, including:
• unisex leather cuffs crafted with studs and hitched webbing
• sterling silver bead bracelets (some with turquoise accents)
• feather and braided leather bracelets
• leather and turquoise medallion bracelet
• leather and lapis lazuli berry bracelet
• leather and silver concho cuffs
• turquoise squash blossom pendants
The leather she uses in her work is sourced from retired horse tack. This is cleaned and reconditioned for utmost beauty and longevity.
Mike French
Based in his small workshop in Lockhart, Texas, Mike French is a non-native, primarily self-taught silversmith specializing in handmade American Southwest jewelry. He has a particular passion for producing vintage, pre-1955 tourist-era styles, which are graphic and very “clean”. He creates heirloom-quality jewelry that is hand-forged from ingot silver, and he uses traditional techniques (including tufa casting) for his craft. His characteristic style is unmistakable, and his jewelry is stunning in its beauty.
Our Mike French pieces instore at different times include:
• sterling silver cast feather pendants
• hand-forged ingot turquoise bracelets
Cowboy Collectibles
Founded in Hungry Horse, Montana, Cowboy Collectibles brings us non-native jewelry made from leather and authentic American horsehair. We offer an eye-catching range of leather and horsehair bracelets that come in a variety of different horsehair colors with hand-tooled leather, metal accents (including conchos), gemstone accents (including turquoise or faux gems), and stamped silver designs. These affordable cuff-style leather bracelets make a great gift idea!
We also have some very pretty Cowgirl Earrings from Cowboy Collectibles.
From jewelry items for daily wear to investment pieces for special occasions and to pass down over generations, your choices are diverse and a feast for the eyes! Take a look at our collection now – we’d love to hear about which pieces speak to you!