Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Navajo Turquoise and Sterling Silver Concho Belt

$20,700
£15,695.92
€18,008.55
CA$29,453.57
A$31,950.46
CHF 16,801.34
MX$388,772.57
NOK 210,043.80
SEK 198,097.10
DKK 134,456.91

About the Item

Navajo turquoise and sterling silver concho belt. Featuring eleven large conchos with natural, untreated Morenci turquoise, expertly cut to organically fit in each concho. Stones are in smooth bezel setting with sterling bead decoration. Each concho features a twisted rope and hatched stamped border. Exceptional statement piece that would pair nicely with a dress or jeans. Marked by Navajo artisan "M. Spencer" and stamped "sterling." Size: Total belt length 48 1/2"; conchos 2 1/2" x 3" 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. Family Owned & Operated Cisco’s Gallery deals in the rare, exceptional, and one-of-a-kind pieces that define the history of America and the Old West. Our pieces range from American Indian to Cowboy Western and include original items of everyday life, commerce, art, and warfare that tamed America’s frontier. Our 14,000 square foot gallery opened in 1996 in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Personal Service Cisco’s operates on old fashioned values – honesty and integrity, and all of our items are backed by our money back guarantee. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. Whether you desire assistance with a jewelry purchase, choosing a gift, identification, or even selling – we hope to be your trusted source.

More From This Seller

View All
Navajo Kingman Mine Turquoise and Sterling Silver Concho Belt
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Navajo turquoise and sterling silver concho belt on leather. Each concho having between 5 and 7 stunning Kingman turquoise stones. Bright blue color with silver matrix. Stones cut to...
Category

Late 20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Turquoise, Sterling Silver

Navajo Needlepoint Turquoise and Sterling Silver Concho Belt
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Navajo needlepoint turquoise and sterling silver concho belt. Eleven conchos plus matching buckle. Each concho having 35 needlepoint sleeping beauty turquoise stones in sawtooth beze...
Category

Late 20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Turquoise, Sterling Silver

Navajo Sleeping Beauty Turquoise and Sterling Silver Link Concho Belt
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Navajo Sleeping Beauty turquoise and sterling silver link concho belt. Twelve conchos, each with seven oval cut turquoise stones. Each stone in smooth bezel setting with sterling bea...
Category

Late 20th Century American Native American Vanity Items

Materials

Turquoise, Sterling Silver

Navajo Turquoise and Sterling Silver Concho Belt
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Navajo concho belt. 8 oval conchos and 9 butterfly conchos, making 17 total. Each concho having small Kingman turquoise stone in center and hand stamped details. Small enough to fit ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Vanity Items

Materials

Turquoise, Sterling Silver

Turquoise and Sterling Concho Belt
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Turquoise and sterling concho belt. Alternating oval and butterfly conchos with stamped design and scalloped edges. Rectangular buckle. The turquo...
Category

Late 20th Century American Vanity Items

Materials

Turquoise, Sterling Silver

Navajo Five Stone Turquoise Cuff Bracelet
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Navajo five-stone turquoise and sterling silver cuff bracelet. The turquoise stones are a bright blue with heavy brown matrix, semi to rough-polished in bezel setting with twisted ro...
Category

Late 20th Century American Native American Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Turquoise, Sterling Silver

You May Also Like

Vintage Native American Navajo Sterling Silver & Blue Turquoise Concho Belt 1950
By Navajo
Located in Portland, OR
A very good Vintage sterling silver & blue turquoise Native American Navajo Concho belt, circa 1950. This very attractive Navajo belt is made up of oval silver discs with tooled & pr...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Navajo Native Indian Leather Silver Turquoise Concho Belt
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Vintage Navajo Native Indian Leather Silver Turquoise Concho Belt Adjustable length 34.5" - 38" The leather shows wear consistent with age and us...
Category

Late 20th Century Belts

RARE Vintage Navajo Concho Sterling Silver and Turquoise Leather Belt
Located in Greenport, NY
*RARE* vintage sterling silver and genuine turquoise leather belt made by the Navajo Tribe in the mid-late 1900's. The Navajo Tribe is known for their silversmith work and this piece...
Category

Late 20th Century American Belts

Vintage Signed Native American Navajo SS & Turquoise Concho Belt by Jimmy Herald
By Navajo
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Navajo belt. By Jimmy Herald. Consisting of a leather belt with sterling silver 'conchos' (shells) and turquoise accents. The slides are copper backed and there are ...
Category

Late 20th Century North American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Sterling Silver

Zuni Sterling Silver Turquoise Bracelet Native American
Located in Wallkill, NY
Massive Native American Zuni Needlepoint Silver and Turquoise Oversize Cuff/ Bracelet Turquoise has a slight red matrix running in it. The turquoise i...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Turquoise, Sterling Silver

Vintage Native American Navajo Sterling and Turquoise Bracelet Cuff
Located in New York, NY
Native American Navajo Turquoise Bracelet c. 1950s Hand engraved and hand forged. A wonderful Navajo cuff! The patina of the silver is oxidi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Turquoise, Sterling Silver