Necklaces

Native American Necklaces

Authenticity Guaranteed

SilverTQ, LLC is a company started in 1978 providing hand selected pieces of turquoise jewelry. You will be able to choose stunning handcrafted Native American necklaces from the American Southwest, the location of the world supply of this fine jewelry. All of our jewelry is made of sterling silver by Native American Tribes often using a variety of semi-precious stones, primarily turquoise.

Whether you desire a smaller pendant, hung on a chain, a medium-sized bib style necklace, or a full-sized necklace hung on beads or with side pieces integrated into the design, we have options for you. The different styles will be discussed further down.

The Makers

Tribes that are commonly associated with necklace making are Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and the various Pueblo tribes. Each can have distinctive composition differences, but there are always crossovers. Navajos typically adorn their more elaborate silver work with stones that are more natural shaped. The stones selected are often turquoise but it is not uncommon for the Navajo artist to also use other semi-precious stones for the main focus of the piece.

Zunis are the lapidists who typically cut stones to fit in a preconceived design. These stones might be needlepoint, petit point, or in an inlay pattern. Sometimes these arrangements might be comingled to create different effects and the focus is on the pattern.

The Hopi tribe generally uses all silver and specializes in a technique called overlay. The top sterling plate has a design cut out with a jewelers saw, and is then soldered to a solid back plate creating a 3-D effect. This soldering is so expertly done that many are not aware there are two sheets of silver. Hopis occasionally add some stones to their pattern, generally as an accent. The various Pueblos make a wide variety of jewelry, sometimes looking much like Navajo style jewelry. This is where you must rely on the seller to provide you with correct information. SilverTQ, LLC LLC, provides this information as accurately as is possible.

Stone Settings

All of the tribes do make all of the aforementioned styles; however some tribes are most noted for particular styles. Navajos are the major producer of cabochon styles. Zuni Pueblo Indians are the major producer of the inlay, needlepoint, and petit point type of jewelry.

Cabochons are more naturally shaped stones that have silver work to enhance the stone. Needlepoint stones are cut to have sharp points on each end, like a needle, and are placed in a designed shape or shapes of silver. Petit point stones are cut and are smaller round, oval, rectangle, triangle, and pear shaped or even small squares called chicklets, placed in a designed shape or shapes of bezels. Channel inlay has dividers between the stones of thin slivers of sterling silver. Stone on stone inlay has no silver dividers and the stones are fitted to sit next to each other with little or no gap. These stones might be turquoise, or other semi-precious stones, or mixtures of these stones. All of these stone styles are commonly made in pendants, bib style or full-size necklaces, with or without earrings.

Our Promise

Offering sterling silver Native American jewelry handcrafted in the USA is the fundamental “business mantra” of SilverTQ, LLC. Imported or imitation jewelry of any kind is not what we sell. No matter the style or styles of these expertly handcrafted pieces of wearable art, you can be assured complete satisfaction. Individually made, one at a time, each piece to be cherished and worn proudly.