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Silver Buckle

A silver buckle style is a popular look in the American West. Out west the Navajo have been wearing and working silver with turquoise and other inlay since approximately 1868 when Atsidi Sani learned silver making. The Navajo had a lot of contact with the Spanish as the Spanish populated the Southwest from the late 16th century on and it is speculated that the Navajo learned a lot about personal adornment from the example of Spanish conquistadors.

Early Navajo silver work was concentrated on concha (concho) belts, bow guards, tobacco flasks, and necklaces. Earrings, rings, pins, a silver buckle style, hair ornaments and bolos grew out of this. In some cases, these early Navajo silversmiths used melted down Mexican and U.S. coins to make jewelry.

In the modern world, a silver buckle for a belt might be a sleek, slim shot of highly buffed silver to catch the eye. Modern designers and silversmiths continue to find new ways to use silver. Silver costs less than gold but is still highly prized for its beauty and versatility.

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