How LomaSiiva Verifies Authenticity

This page documents the verification process LomaSiiva applies before a single piece is added to our catalog. The process is the operational backbone of our promise that every LomaSiiva piece is made by a tribally-enrolled Native American artist. We publish this in detail because the process is the differentiator.

Step 1 — Artist intake

An artist contacts LomaSiiva or is referred by an existing artist, a tribal arts cooperative, or a juried market we attend (Santa Fe Indian Market, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair, Eight Northern Pueblos Artist & Craftsman Show). We collect:

• Legal name.
• Tribe of enrollment.
• Tribal enrollment number.
• Hallmark (photographed close-up).
• Sample work (photographed front, back, and hallmark).

Step 2 — Tribal enrollment verification

The artist provides a copy of their tribal enrollment card or Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB). If the artist cannot or will not provide enrollment documentation, the relationship ends here.

We review the document for:

• Correct issuing tribe.
• Match between the legal name on the card and the artist’s name on file.
• Tribal enrollment number consistency with the issuing tribe’s format.
• Date of issuance.

We file the documentation in our verification archive, indexed to a unique LomaSiiva Artist ID. The archive is paper plus encrypted digital backup, retained for the lifetime of the artist’s relationship with LomaSiiva and seven years after.

Step 3 — Hallmark registration

The artist’s hallmark is photographed at high resolution and added to our hallmark database. Each LomaSiiva Artist ID is linked to one or more hallmarks (some artists use different stamps for different work). When new pieces arrive, we cross-reference the hallmark on the piece against the registered hallmarks for that artist to confirm it is theirs.

Step 4 — Piece-by-piece intake

When the artist delivers a new piece for the LomaSiiva catalog, we:

1. Verify the hallmark matches their registered mark.
2. Confirm sterling stamp is present (.925 or Sterling).
3. Test stones for authenticity where doubtful (turquoise hardness, matrix patterns, treatment indicators).
4. Photograph the piece front, back, hallmark close-up, and stone close-up.
5. Generate the LomaSiiva Piece ID and file it under the artist’s LomaSiiva Artist ID.

Step 5 — Catalog listing

The piece is listed in our catalog with attributes that name the tribe, the artist (where consent permits), the materials, and the verification reference. The Certificate of Authenticity template is generated, ready to print and ship with the piece when sold.

Step 6 — Sale and Certificate of Authenticity

When the piece sells, we print the Certificate of Authenticity. It contains:

• The artist’s name and tribe.
• The piece description, materials, and dimensions.
• The LomaSiiva Piece ID and Artist ID.
• The verification reference connecting back to our archive.
• The date of sale.
• An authorized LomaSiiva signature.

The COA accompanies the piece in the original order and serves as the buyer’s permanent record of provenance — useful for insurance, donation, gifting, and any future resale.

Why we publish this

This level of process detail is unusual for a jewelry gallery. Most galleries treat their verification (if any exists) as proprietary or simply implied by the seller’s reputation. We document it because:

• The buyer should know what their authenticity claim is grounded in.
• The Indian Arts and Crafts Act gives buyers the right to ask, and we want to make the answer easy.
• The process, taken seriously, is the difference between “authentic” as marketing language and “authentic” as documented fact.

What this means for your purchase

Every LomaSiiva piece has been through all six steps above before you saw it on the site. Your Certificate of Authenticity references the verification archive that backs up the claim. If you ever need confirmation — for an insurance claim, a donation appraisal, or a future buyer — we can produce the verification record on request.

Related: Why tribal enrollment matters · Hallmarks guide · The federal law

Updated 2026. LomaSiiva — The Only Authentic.