Native American Ring Guide

No single piece of jewelry probably carries more history, tradition, or symbolism than the Native American ring. Through time the ring has represented many different things to its wearers, serving as simple adornments, symbols of status or office, tokens of trade, and declarations of religion. Native American Indians have long embraced the ring in their culture and artistry, and have taken the simple jewelry form to a high level of art via elaborate creations in silver and stone, most notably executed by Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Pueblo Indians.

The Navajo are widely regarded to have elevated the craftsmanship of the Native American ring. After coming in contact with Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century, the Navajo adapted the designs of these European explorers, some based upon Moorish influences, into their own. Two hundred years later, Navajo Indians began melting silver coins, many of them obtained from Mexican traders and silversmiths, the latter known as plateros, with whom they had come in contact, and incorporated the precious but very malleable metal into their ring making.

This was a key step in the development and diversity of Native American rings. Soldering is one of the most difficult techniques to master in jewelry-making, and a crucial element to increasing ring design complexity. Through constant refinement by their silversmiths, by the turn of the 19th century the Navajo had mastered the technique of soldering, allowing Native American artisans to increase the complexity of all jewelry designs, including the ability to set stones within rings. This was a key step in the development and diversity of Native American Indian rings.

Native American Band Rings

The simplicity of the ring band design made it the first style of rings worn throughout history and cultures, including for Native American Indians. Bands, initially crafted from bone, shell, and other soft items, are most often made today from metal, in particular, silver. The two most common styles of Native American band rings are (1) plain with the silver metal designed or etched, usually with Native American symbols, and (2) silver metal with inlaid stone, with and without accompanying designs. For this second style, turquoise is one of the most popular stones for inlay into the band over its silver base, although onyx, opal, lapis, garnet, and coral, just to name a few, also are very commonly used gems. The combination of silver and turquoise is by far one of the most dominant Native American ring styles.

Native American Set-Stone Rings

The styling of Native American set-stone rings shifts the attention away from the metal band to the centerpiece stone or stones. The Native American set-stone ring design, most notably those advanced by the Zuni Pueblo, allows the semi-precious gems to exude a natural yet bold look. The stone’s setting, made by soldering together a housing or “bezel,” secures and encases the gem within the metal, making it appear as an extension of the ring, rather than an addition. A set-stone Native American ring is a great attention grabber, and can be used with great success for both formal and casual wear.