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.