Calvin Maloney Navajo Concho Belt, Sterling Silver Native American

Native American Artisan: KY Tribal Affiliation: Navajo Metal Content: Sterling Silver Style: Cuff Fastening Type: N/A (slides over wrist) Theme: Sunray Wings Features: Etched Desig...

Liquid silver! Designed in sterling silver, this Native American set consists of a necklace and a pair of matching earrings. The necklace features twisted strands of silver beads, wh...

Native American Tribal Affiliation: Navajo Metal Content: Sterling Silver Stone Information Natural Onyx Cut: Oval Cabochon Color: Black Style: Solitaire Cuff Fastening Type: N/A ...

Native American Artisan: Harry R. Morgan Tribal Affiliation: Navajo Metal Content: Sterling Silver Style: Cuff Fastening Type: N/A (slides over wrist) Features: Etched Detailing M...

Native American This ring is a size 7 3/4. Metal Content: Guaranteed Sterling Silver as stamped Stone Information: Genuine Turquoise - Treatment: Routinely Enhanced ...

Native American Tribal Affiliation: Navajo Metal Content: 925 Sterling Silver Style: Large Dome Stud Fastening Type: Butterfly Closures Features: Etched Scallop Detailing Measurem...

A vintage Native American bear claw link concho belt. Each link features a raised bear claw motif, accented with a turquoise cabochon, set in a sa...

Vintage Native American Silver Rectangle Concho Belt- This lovely Native American Concho belt is crafted in beautifully detailed silver. Size: 30.5 inch...

Navajo concho belt with rectangular turquoise slabs, surrounded by small stones. Signed RS. The turquoise is from the Kingman Mine in Arizona. Marked ster...

Navajo sterling concho belt with coral nuggets, beads and rope surround. 11 conchos 2 1/2" with larger buckle 3" x 2 1/2" on black leather belt. Trunk pie...

This Native American Sterling silver watch is covered in various size turquoise stones. Measuring .75 down to .50 on the band. We fit a size 6-6.25 inch wrist. Slide-in clasp closure...

Signed LMB. Marked sterling; 11 conchos total. PERIOD: After 1950 ORIGIN: Navajo, Southwest SIZE: Total Belt Length 62 1/2" Leather; conchos 2 1/4"D The word “concho” sometimes spelled “concha”, comes from the Spanish word meaning shell. Some of the first “conchos” were made of melted silver dollars and resembled a shell. Concho belts reportedly began appearing in Navajo country in the late 1860s. Other Native Americans including Zuni and Hopi also made traditional concho belts before long. Concho belts can cost into the thousands of dollars depending upon the craftsmanship, amount of silver, rarity of turquoise and stones used. Belts in the upper end of the price scales are usually made before the turn of the century. Buyers should deal with reputable dealers as many fakes and look-a-likes exist. A well-made belt with age to it will fetch a bigger premium and hold its value better. The earliest concho belts are now referred to as “First Phase” belts. This style of belt was made before Native silversmith had learned much about soldering. The conchos were hammered out from melted coins, cut, and filed into shape, engraved and a diamond shape slot was cut out of the middle of the concho, with a bar left across the center of the diamond shaped slot for the leather loop. Conchos that required no soldering are generally thought to be made from 1860-1880. Second phase conchos were done 1890-1900s in which silversmith began to solder. Third phase conchos is when you start to see the “butterfly” or “bow” appear between conchos and the use of turquoise as an adornment. A butterfly (bow) is a smaller concho in between bigger conchos. A belt with butterflies and sometimes turquoise would be from the early 1900s – 1930s. The timelines may slightly differentiate depending upon who you ask. Natives first had concho belts for personal use only, but around the turn of the last century, tourist demand had kicked in and a new outlet emerged. belts & buckles jewelry silver belts conchos navajo needlepoint southwest turquoise...