Navajo Turquoise Earrings

Navajo Turquoise Earrings - The Navajo Indians began making Turquoise Earrings shortly after Atsidi Sani learned how to make Silver Jewelry in 1865. Atsidi Sani was the first Navajo Indian to become a Silversmith and he learned the trade from the Spaniards who came to this area in search of Gold and Silver. It is believed Atsidi Sani began making Turquoise Jewelry and Navajo Turquoise Earrings about 1870 to be worn by Navajo women. Atsidi taught his brother how to Silversmith and they both taught many Navajos the Silversmithing trade, it was not long before the Navajo's were producing Navajo Turquoise Earrings on a large scale.

The Navajo have been very prolific in making Turquoise Jewelry and Navajo Turquoise Earrings are one of the most important types of Turquoise Jewelry items they have made as most every women has loved wearing Turquoise on their ears. Navajo Turquoise Earrings were admired and in demand by their own people in the beginning, as tourism began in the Southwest Navajo Turquoise Earrings were top sellers and still today, Navajo Turquoise Earrings are hot as a fire cracker!

Navajo Turquoise Earrings come in Green Turquoise, Blue Turquoise and are identified by their extensive Silverwork the Navajo Silversmiths are most known for. The Navajo Jewelers are prolific and they also make Turquoise Inlay Earrings as well, many Navajo Turquoise Earrings made today are also made with Turquoise accented by other colored stones such as Coral, Spiny Oyster, Sugilite, Lime Turquoise and many other colorful gemstones.

Navajo Turquoise Earring Examples

Below are several pair of typical Navajo Turquoise Earrings and the different styles of Turquoise Earrings made by Navajo Jewelers.

Above are two different styles of Navajo Silver and Turquoise Earrings they are known for making. The Navajo Handcrafted Earrings on the left are called Navajo Cluster Style Earrings as the stones are designed in a cluster arrangement. This particular pair of Navajo made Earrings have Spiny Oyster, Sugilite, Coral and Turquoise Stones bezel set and designed into a very nice pair of Navajo Dangle Earrings. Navajo made Turquoise Jewelry has great character and diverse styles that are timeless, in vogue and considered Fashion Turquoise Jewelry.

The pair of Turquoise Earrings on the left were handcrafted with Royston Ribbon Turquoise and Sugilite. The gemstones were bezel set and made into Turquoise Dangle Earrings that are attractive and beautiful when worn. Ribbon Turquoise is cut differently then Turquoise has been cut in the past as the Turquoise vein is cut with the host rock to create a river like picture in each Turquoise Stone. The Royston Ribbon Turquoise in this pair of Navajo made Turquoise Earrings makes them attractive and interesting.

The Navajo Turquoise Earrings to the left were made with Tibetan Green Spiderweb Turquoise in Sterling Silver. They are considered a Navajo Drop Earring style type of Earring and this style of Earrings have been made by the Navajo Silversmiths for decades, this is a timeless Jewelry design. The design around the Turquoise Stones is made with two round wires twisted together to make a rope affect and the Silver drops on the bottom are called raindrops by the Navajo, the center Silver drop is stamped to make what's called a fluted bead design.

To the right is a pair of Cluster style Navajo Turquoise Earrings made with Sleeping Beauty Turquoise which is known for its clear sky blue color. This is a classic Navajo Turquoise Jewelry design that they have been using for a hundred years, Navajo Cluster work. The Navajo make Turquoise Cluster Earrings, Bracelets, Rings, Pendants and many other types of Turquoise Jewelry. Navajo Turquoise Earrings seem to be one of the most popular items that the Navajo Jewelers make in the cluster style recently as it depicts Navajo Vintage Jewelry which is currently popular.

The two photos above show the different styles of Navajo Silverwork. The Coral Earrings to the left have extensive Navajo Stampwork highlighted by a single Mediterranean Coral gemstone. The Earring tops are fluted repose Silver buttons and the bottoms are hand stamped silver shaped in a fan type design. Many of the Navajo Silversmiths make their own stamps which makes their individual Sterling Silver Jewelry unique to themselves.

The Green Turquoise Earrings to the right were made with Broken Arrow Turquoise from Nevada USA. This pair of Navajo Turquoise Dangle Earrings have fluted and domed Earring tops with bezel set Broken Arrow Turquoise stones dangling from them. This type of Turquoise Earring is easy to wear on a daily basis and women love them, the, simplicity of this type of Navajo Turquoise Earring is great.

Although the pair of Turquoise Inlay Earrings on the left are listed as Zuni Turquoise Inlaid Earrings, it is possible they are actually Navajo Inlaid Turquoise Earrings. Turquoise Inlay Jewelry is made by both the Zuni Indians as well as the Navajo Indians these days as Turquoise Inlay Jewelry is very popular and both Native American Jewelry craftsmen are prolific in their work. This pair on Turquoise Inlay Earring were made with Green Turquoise, Blue Turquoise and jet, they were inlaid into Sterling Silver.

The pair of Turquoise Earrings on the right are distinctly Navajo Handcrafted Earrings. This is very typical of Navajo Jewelry design and the Zuni Jewelers have their own type of Turquoise cluster work called Zuni Petit Point and Zuni Needlepoint Jewelry. This pair of Navajo Earrings are considered multi-color Navajo cluster Earrings and have Gaspeite, Sugilite and Turquoise gemstones bezel set into Sterling Silver, they are Navajo handcrafted Turquoise Dangle Earrings.

Here are two pair of Navajo Turquoise Earrings - one is Vintage Navajo Turquoise Earrings and the other is Navajo Vintage Turquoise Style Earrings, can you tell which pair is Old? The Navajo Cluster Turquoise Earrings on the right have beautiful old spiderweb Turquoise stones set in an unusual triangle shape which is unique and different for Navajo Cluster Earrings. The pair of Turquoise Earrings on the left are Navajo Squash Blossom Turquoise Earring style with a cluster of Turquoise gemstones and raindrop designs. The Squash were depicted from a blossom of a pomegranate. The Navajo Turquoise Squash Blossom Earrings are the old pair and the Navajo Turquoise Cluster pair on the right are a few years old.

Here are some educational pages on Turquoise Earrings you may consider to look at:

Turquoise Earrings - Turquoise Beaded Earrings - DSC Turquoise Earrings

Earrings Turquoise - Vintage Turquoise Earrings

Blue Turquoise Pendants - Green Turquoise Pendants -Turquoise Bead Pendants

We hope you have gained some useful knowledge from our Navajo Turquoise Earrings educational presentation page. We invite you to learn more about Silver Jewelry, Indian Jewelry and Turquoise Jewelry by following the links in our Learning Center which has many other informational pages that we have written on topics related to Southwestern Silver Jewelry. In addition, we would like to invite you to join our E-Mail Newsletter - about once every other month we send out a Newsletter to inform our members of what's happening with Durango Silver Company, new products, specials for our members and more. We also have a monthly drawing from our members to Giveaway free Turquoise Jewelry from our company. Please take a moment to become one of our friends and future winners in our giveaway by signing in below.