Authentic
Native American Navajo Pearls
& Sterling Silver Bead Necklaces
What are Navajo Pearls?
Navajo Pearls are sterling silver beads hand made by Navajo silversmiths. Read more
We offer both smooth and stamped Navajo Pearls.
Sterling Silver Navajo Pearls and Smooth Beads
Listed by length, shortest to longest. Click on photo for details and to order.
Sterling Silver Navajo Stamped Beads
Listed by length, shortest to longest. Click on photo for details and to order.
How Navajo Pearls are Made
The Navajo silversmith that makes beads has two specialized hand tools. One is a dapping block that has concave half domes of various sizes in it. The other is a set of correspondingly sized dapping punches, which have ball ends. Each bead starts out as two flat discs of sterling silver of a specific size. Each disc is domed one at a time by placing the disc over an appropriately sized cavity and dapping it with the punch until the flat disc becomes domed. Each half-bead is filed so that it will fit evenly with the other half-bead. A hole is drilled in the top of each dome. The burr from the drilling is filed off. Narrow strips of silver solder are cut and placed between the halves and with ample flux the two pieces are soldered together. The edge is filed and the bead is polished.
Explore More Native American Jewelry
Browse other collections of authentic Native American jewelry in our store:
Native American Bracelets | Native American Rings | Native American Earrings | Heishi, Bead and Other Necklaces | Native American Pendants | Native American Buckles | Native American Barrettes | Native American Bolo Ties | Native American Hat Bands | Native American Miniatures | Native American Pins | Native American Watches | Native American Rosaries | Native American Baby Items