The Cultural Significance of Traditional Native American Navajo Bracelets

The Navajo are among the most notable artists when it comes to traditional Native American jewelry. Bracelets are among their most popular creations, particularly the ones made by renowned artists like Harry H. Begay, Jennifer Curtis, Tommy Jackson, and Arland Ben. To collectors, traditional Native American Navajo bracelets are prized and highly valuable collectibles because each piece is one-of-a-kind and made with only the finest materials like gem-grade turquoise, real gold, and sterling silver. Many bracelets feature generations-old traditions of tufa casting, carving, and sand casting—and this adds to the value of those pieces. Perhaps more importantly, traditional Native American Navajo bracelets are culturally significant.

The Navajo began to make bracelets and other pieces of jewelry in the 16^th century when the Spanish came into contact with them. They noticed the pieces the Spaniards wore and how the jewelry reflected status in society. Hence, they began to make pieces for themselves. When you explore the selection of Navajo bracelets online, you will find that they still have Spanish influences—and these are clearly depicted in the use of designs like squash or pomegranate blossoms.

The Navajo continued to develop their own jewelry over the next two centuries while trading with the Spanish, too. They typically used the crescent-shaped nana on some pieces to symbolize power. It is estimated that the Navajo began using silver to make pieces and bracelets in the early 1860s. They started out by melting silver coins, particularly Mexican coins. Next, they moved on to using turquoise around the 1880s. It was also around this time when Mexican silversmith styles influenced Navajo jewelry making methods.

Navajo bracelets, like most Native American pieces of jewelry, contain a piece of history, culture and art of the tribe. Traditional Native American Navajo bracelets that are made with turquoise represent health, luck, and happiness. The Navajo is reputable for their talent in creating turquoise beads as well.

 

Arland Ben and His Unique Designer Jewelry

Some of the best pieces of Native American jewelry are designed and made exclusively by Arland Ben. He is a Navajo from the Edgewater Clan and born in Utah. He uses his diverse background to create one-of-a-kind pieces that have their own unique character. Arland Ben is known for his method of overlaying silver and gold jewelry, and his designs typically feature high-grade rare turquoise and hand-cut designs. He is very particular with the materials he uses. This is why his unique designer jewelry pieces are typically made using 18K or 14K gold, which is made more distinctive with petroglyph images he personally creates. Gold is overlaid on sterling silver to finish the piece.

Arland Ben’s beautiful jewelry pieces are distinctive and visually stunning with his choice of turquoise gems. He uses only the finest natural American and gem grade turquoise, which is usually the centerpiece in many of his beautiful and complex works. Are you looking for an authorized seller of Arland Ben’s unique designer jewelry online? You can’t go wrong with a company that is also an authorized supplier of rare natural American turquoise and has been retailing fine Native American jewelry for over four decades. Buying from such a store ensures that you are investing in a high-quality, highly collectible, and genuine piece.

When buying Arland Ben jewelry, always make sure that it comes with a certificate of authenticity, which assures collectors of his name, the materials he used, his tribal affiliation, and the piece’s retail value. Arland Ben makes rings, bracelets, bolo ties, earrings, and belt buckles. His unique selection of jewelry has earned him numerous awards at the Heard Museum Show and the Santa Fe Indian Market, and these contributed further to his status as one of the most collectible and finest Native American jewelry artists today.