Native American jewelry is one of the most misunderstood and heavily counterfeited categories in the jewelry market. Authentic Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi pieces—featuring hand-cut stones, sterling silver, traditional inlay work, symbolic motifs, and artisan craftsmanship—are often imitated by mass-produced imports sold at tourist stands, flea markets, and online listings.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 657 gives you a complete, beginner-friendly, non-destructive workflow for evaluating Native American jewelry. Using simple visual techniques—no testing, no cleaning, and no handling beyond basic inspection—you’ll learn the same observational methods used by professional appraisers and cultural artifact specialists.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how to:
Recognize key Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi stylistic traits
Identify natural turquoise and distinguish it from dyed howlite, magnesite, resin, or composites
Evaluate sterling silver hallmarks, tribal marks, and artisan signatures
Distinguish handmade craftsmanship from machine-made copies
Spot red flags in stone inlay work, settings, and metal construction
Identify common imported fakes from Mexico, the Philippines, and China
Recognize artificial aging and chemical patina tricks
Identify incorrect motifs, overly symmetrical stones, and design inconsistencies
Evaluate price signals that indicate fakes or low-quality pieces
Apply a full, non-destructive authentication workflow to any jewelry piece
Apply the full DJR non-destructive workflow for evaluating Native American jewelry
Know when an item deserves professional appraisal or authentication
Whether you're shopping in tourist markets, browsing estate finds, or evaluating inherited jewelry, this guide gives you the expert structure needed to confidently identify genuine Native American craftsmanship—and avoid mass-produced imitations.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
Native American jewelry is one of the most misunderstood and heavily counterfeited categories in the jewelry market. Authentic Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi pieces—featuring hand-cut stones, sterling silver, traditional inlay work, symbolic motifs, and artisan craftsmanship—are often imitated by mass-produced imports sold at tourist stands, flea markets, and online listings.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 657 gives you a complete, beginner-friendly, non-destructive workflow for evaluating Native American jewelry. Using simple visual techniques—no testing, no cleaning, and no handling beyond basic inspection—you’ll learn the same observational methods used by professional appraisers and cultural artifact specialists.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how to:
Recognize key Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi stylistic traits
Identify natural turquoise and distinguish it from dyed howlite, magnesite, resin, or composites
Evaluate sterling silver hallmarks, tribal marks, and artisan signatures
Distinguish handmade craftsmanship from machine-made copies
Spot red flags in stone inlay work, settings, and metal construction
Identify common imported fakes from Mexico, the Philippines, and China
Recognize artificial aging and chemical patina tricks
Identify incorrect motifs, overly symmetrical stones, and design inconsistencies
Evaluate price signals that indicate fakes or low-quality pieces
Apply a full, non-destructive authentication workflow to any jewelry piece
Apply the full DJR non-destructive workflow for evaluating Native American jewelry
Know when an item deserves professional appraisal or authentication
Whether you're shopping in tourist markets, browsing estate finds, or evaluating inherited jewelry, this guide gives you the expert structure needed to confidently identify genuine Native American craftsmanship—and avoid mass-produced imitations.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
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