How to Tell if Native American Jewelry Is Real

Authenticity is the single most important question when buying Native American jewelry. The market is flooded with imports stamped with copies of tribal hallmarks, plastic stones sold as turquoise, and machine-pressed silver passed off as handmade. Federal law makes it a crime to sell these as Native American — yet they outnumber genuine pieces in most retail channels. Under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (18 U.S.C. §1159; civil remedy at 25 U.S.C. §305e), work may be marketed as Native American only by an enrolled member of a federally or state recognised tribe, or by an individual certified by a tribe as a non-member Indian artisan (25 CFR §309.2). The work must be handmade by that artist; mass-produced imports do not qualify, even if the design copies a tribal style. Materials must be genuine — sterling silver (.925 or higher) and authentic stone, not plastic or reconstituted alternatives. Every piece should be traceable to a tribally-enrolled artist. Documentation verifying tribal enrollment and the artist's identity provides the foundation for authenticity. This verification protects buyers and ensures that purchases support genuine Native American artisans rather than counterfeit operations.