Concho Belts

Worn by tribes of the Great Plains as either a decoration for their hair or as an ornament connected to articles of leather, the earliest Conchos were constructed of German Silver. Whether obtained through battle or trade, the Navajo transformed the Concho from a hair and clothing adornment into the modern Concho belt. Whereas the Concho itself influenced the Navajo in form, the Mexican and Spanish ornaments strongly affected the Navajo designs. As Navajo silversmiths learned new skills, they developed the ability to transform the motifs into their own meaning, integrating old skills with new, which led to the distinct Navajo Concho belt styles.

Due to a limited source of silver, the earliest crafted Concho belts were light in weight and commonly round in form. The center of each individual Concho contained a diamond or oval cut, allowing for the attachment of leather. As the ability to solder increased among the Navajo and Pueblo silversmiths, the solid Concho replaced the center-cut form. Leather strung through the back of Conchos facilitated a whole new look, inspiring the use of center patterns. The most dominate feature of the early Concho belts revolved around the central diamond surrounded by the sunburst design, which radiated from the inside out. As time progressed, new and improved tools augmented design features.

The ability to embellish the Concho belt with various hues of turquoise and the different shades of coral, combined with a greater accessibility to silver, fostered the beginning of the modern Concho belt. Heavier in weight and oval in shape, the embellished Concho took on a new meaning. Whether as a focal point or inlayed into a design, the combination of turquoise and silver is emblematic of the Southwest. The improvement in soldering skills enabled the renovation of the leather Concho belt into the modern linked Concho belt. As tourist demand for the belts increased, silversmiths were encouraged to construct user-friendly belts, lighter in weight and smaller in size. The Concho belt, in any of its forms, is one of the most commonly used and widely recognized items of Native American jewelry today.