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.

LomaSiiva is the only United States gallery that publishes tribal enrollment verification for every artist whose work we sell. Every piece in our catalog is made by a tribally-enrolled member of a federally- or state-recognized tribe, traceable through documentation we keep on file.

The five things that make Native American jewelry “real”

1. The artist is tribally enrolled. Under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. §305), only enrolled members of federally- or state-recognized tribes can legally market their work as Native American.
2. The work is handmade by that artist. Mass-produced imports do not qualify, even if the design copies a tribal style.
3. The materials are real. Sterling silver (.925 or higher), genuine stone (not plastic, not reconstituted, not block), and natural shell or coral when used.
4. The piece carries a verifiable hallmark or signature. The artist’s mark stamped into the silver is the chain-of-custody trail.
5. It is documented. A Certificate of Authenticity that names the artist, tribe, and verification process is the buyer’s legal record.

Why this matters for collectors

A fauxthentic squash-blossom necklace from an import wholesaler costs the same retail price as a genuine handmade one but is worth a fraction. The genuine piece appreciates as the artist’s career develops and as turquoise from closed mines becomes scarcer. The fauxthentic piece has no resale value and no provenance.

Beyond resale, buying authentic Native American jewelry directly funds tribal artists, preserves living craft traditions, and respects the legal protections written specifically to keep these traditions intact. Every purchase is a vote.

Read the rest of the authenticity guide

• Why tribal enrollment verification matters — the gold standard for authenticity, and what makes LomaSiiva different.
• The Indian Arts and Crafts Act, explained — the 1990 federal law and what it protects.
• Native American silver hallmarks guide by tribe — how to read the artist mark stamped into the silver.
• How LomaSiiva verifies authenticity — our six-step verification process, documented.
• How to spot fake Native American jewelry — a buyer’s guide to the most common fauxthentic patterns.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if Native American jewelry is real?

Real Native American jewelry is made by tribally-enrolled artists, stamped with the artist’s hallmark, set with genuine (not block or reconstituted) stones, and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity that documents the artist and tribe. LomaSiiva publishes tribal enrollment verification for every piece we sell.

What is the Indian Arts and Crafts Act?

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is a federal law that makes it illegal to sell goods as “Native American” or “Indian-made” unless they are produced by a member of a federally- or state-recognized tribe. Civil penalties run up to $250,000 plus criminal prosecution for falsely marketing fauxthentic goods.

What does tribal enrollment verification mean?

Tribal enrollment verification means the artist is a documented, enrolled member of a federally- or state-recognized tribe. Each tribe maintains its own enrollment register. LomaSiiva verifies enrollment by reviewing the artist’s tribal enrollment certificate before adding any of their work to our gallery. We keep the documentation on file as part of every piece’s chain of custody.

Why do prices vary so much for similar-looking pieces?

Three factors drive price differences: the artist’s reputation and award history, the rarity of the stone (Sleeping Beauty, Bisbee, and Lone Mountain turquoise mines are closed and rising in price), and the hand-labor hours visible in the work. Mass-produced or imported pieces look similar from a distance but lack all three sources of value.

Does LomaSiiva offer a Certificate of Authenticity?

Yes. Every piece ships with a Certificate of Authenticity that names the artist, the artist’s tribe, the date of acquisition, and our verification reference. The COA is the legal record protecting the buyer under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, and it accompanies the piece if you ever resell, gift, or insure it.

Are pieces sold on Etsy or Amazon as “Native American” safe to buy?

Some are; many are not. Marketplace listings rarely include enrollment documentation, and platform sellers face minimal accountability. If a listing does not name the artist’s tribe, does not show a hallmark close-up, and does not promise a Certificate of Authenticity, treat it as fauxthentic until proven otherwise.

Updated 2026. LomaSiiva — The Only Authentic.