A Guide for Authenticating Your Turquoise Native American Jewelry

The unfortunate truth is that there are many counterfeit Native American jewelry pieces in the market today. With the increasing popularity of Native American designs and products, imitators are bound to be there. The reality is that the beauty, craftsmanship, and quality of authentic Native American pieces cannot be compared to jewelry made in overseas factories. Here are a few tips to help you make sure you buy truly genuine ornaments.

Terminology

There are laws that prohibit sellers from advertising counterfeit Native American art as genuine. According to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, only products that are produced by a federally recognized tribe or nation can name their products using terms like “Indian” and “Native American.” Therefore, if you see jewelry pieces advertised as “American Indian-inspired” or “American Indian-style”, then it means they are not authentic. When shopping for a Native American squash blossom necklace, you should keep an eye out for any deceitful wording.

Price

It is always good for one to be skeptical when shopping for jewelry. When you get an ornament that seems too good to be true, then it likely is. However, this does not mean that you cannot get good deals, but you need to be cautious of the prices that do not give a true reflection of the jewelry piece. Genuine Native American jewelry is handmade and needs lots of time, effort, and skill and this means artisans must be handsomely compensated. When Native American bracelets are unusually cheap, then that they are probably not authentic.

The magnet test

Most Native American jewelry artists will use sterling silver for their turquoise jewelry pieces. Therefore, you can test its authenticity by holding a magnet on the piece. Silver will not magnetize and if your jewelry piece responds to the magnet, then it is definitely silver-plated.

Hallmark

Most authentic turquoise jewelry designers usually stamp their jewelry items with small engravings or signatures. Before buying engraved items, you need to look at other pieces to ensure that the sign looks just like those on genuine pieces. However, keep in mind that not all artists will engrave or sign their ornaments, and a lack of a signature does not mean the piece is counterfeit.

To avoid counterfeit jewelry, you should only buy from trusted dealers. The best dealers have built a solid reputation by sourcing their pieces from genuine artisans. Be sure to research extensively about the dealers to determine the type of products they are selling. When you buy authentic jewelry pieces, you will cherish them for many years to come.