One of the two general types of Native American jewelry is metalwork jewelry.

Native American silver jewelry is within the classification of metalwork jewelry and it has achieved a pre-eminent position.

The other type is beadwork jewelry. Beadwork, using natural materials like shells and turquoise, animal bones, ivory, was well-developed even in pre-Columbian times.

Metalwork jewelry, on the other hand, was relatively simple until after the arrival of the Europeans, that is to say the Spanish conquisitadores. Before new techniques were introduced and adopted, the primary methods of working metal were hammering and etching. The tradition began with iron, copper and brass and later moved on to silver.

The Spanish invaders introduced the technology of silversmithing. The Spaniards came to the southwest of the continent and the Mexicans learned from them the art and technique of silversmithing.

It is believed that the Navajo were the first American Indians to have learned silversmithing from the Mexicans. The Navajo, approximately numbering 8000, were imprisoned for four years at Fort Sumner, after being captured by Kit Carson in 1863. Some say that they did not start working silver until after their imprisonment.

There is a story of a Navajo called Atsidi Sani ("Old Smith"), who learned working silver from a Mexican after his release from Fort Sumner, and then taught his sons, who in turn taught others.

Another Navajo,named Atsidi Chon ("Ugly Smith"), is reported to have moved to Zuni some four years later, and taught the Zuni how to silversmith. The story goes that his Zuni friend, Lanyade, paid Atsidi Chon "one good horse" for teaching him.

Lanyade then moved around to sell his jewelry, and came to the Hopi. The skills were taught to Sikyatala, the first Hopi silversmith.

The Navajo were much influenced by the Spaniards, with whom they were constantly interacting. From them they inherited the early Spanish designs.

But the Spaniards themselves had been under Muslim rule for almost 800 years. Their art had a distinctive Moorish influence. This in turn was passed on to the Navajo, then the Zuni and the Hopi.

The representative Native American jewelry is the squash blossom necklace, which has as its centrepiece a crescent-shaped pendant. This design was much used by the Spaniards in the iron ornaments on horse bridles. Though further developed as time went by, the essential design of the squash blossom necklace is in fact a legacy of Moorish influence.

Much of present day Native American metalwork jewelry descends from the skills learned and practised by the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi Indians in those early times.

The Navajo are famed for their exquisite silver designs, inlaid with various gem stones.