History of southwestern turquoise jewelry

Southwestern turquoise jewelry is much love in the world because of its unique appearance and rich history. Turquoise jewelry used all kinds of materials from wood stones and other materials. From the time early Spanish explorers came into the southwest, turquoise was known to be a favorite of the inhabitants living there. Native American Indians from the Navajo and Zuni tribes make beautiful jewelry using turquoise stones that come from various mines in the American Southwest. In 1539 Fray Marcos de Niza wrote of it being worn as ornaments by the people. Some had as many as three or four strands of green stones around their neck, and others carried them as ear-pendants and in their nose."
Southwest turquoise mines are located in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. Some mines are still active. But other mines have been closed due to the supply of turquoise being depleted. Some mines were closed due to the discovery of gold.
Today, the southwestern Indians are perhaps best known for the beauty and variety of their turquoise jewelry. If you like this type of jewelry you find necklaces, bracelets and just about anything else in a store that sells turquoise jewelry of America. Not only is this jewelry prized by the collector, but also by the Indian who wears it. And if you're an avid fan of any kind of turquoise jewelry then you're lucky. Turquoise combined with money is very affordable today. Both the Navajo and Pueblo Indian consider jewelry as wealth and any ceremonial occasion is used to display it.