The belt buckle: not a just accessory, a great jewel!

At HARPO, we want to bring you the crème de la crème of Native American jewelry. When you think of jewelry, you probably don't think of belt buckles, yet this timeless accessory can be THE detail that makes all the difference.

Belt buckles made by Native American artists

The belt buckle: a symbol

The belt buckle is an emblematic accessory of Western culture. You are bound to remember the belt buckles worn by cowboys, sheriffs and rangers. Along with hats, bandanas, cowboy boots and fringed jackets… belt buckles are one of those mythical accessories of American culture revived by the fashioned industry season after season.

Native American silversmiths have been known to create superb belt buckles for over a hundred years. This skill was inherited from the Spanish conquistadors, and one that continues to prove its worth today, both at the ranches and on the catwalk!

The Native American belt buckle: often copied but never equaled

Whatever the brand, whatever the era, you must have seen low-end models on the shelves of ready-to-wear stores trying to copy the style of Native American belt buckles made by Native American artists.

To be sure that the belt buckle you are buying is of good quality and handcrafted from the finest materials, nothing could be simpler: come to HARPO or visit our website.

We will show you all the details that make a high-endbelt buckle: because each of our pieces is unique, each belt buckle has its own special features.

Native American belt buckles: in all shapes, for all tastes

At HARPO, you will find that we offer belt buckles in a variety of shapes and volumes, representing different Native jewelry skills.

Native American jewelry know-how

Sterling silver belt buckles

Some of the belt buckles youfind at HARPO are made exclusively of sterling silver. The artists who make them are generally Navajo and (more rarely) Hopi. Both tribes are known for working the sterling silver, each in their own style:

The Navajo are known for their stamp work, hand-produced with their own distinctive hallmarks. They create their own designs and hammer them onto sterling silver, or create reliefs on the buckle, using various soldered or embossed forms.

Hopi artists, on the other hand, are very few in number and do an exceptional type of work known as “overlay”. This process consists of two flat pieces of the same size, nested one on top of the other. The top piece is cut with a pattern and acts as a “stencil”. It is applied to the bottom piece, creating a silver background. This background is oxidized and scratched to create contrast between the two pieces.

Turquoise stone belt buckles

At HARPO, turquoise stone is queen. It is the stone that Native American artists have been working with for generations. The turquoise stone belt buckles you will find here are made exclusively from American turquoise.

Navajo artists generally work with turquoise in its raw form: they cut turquoise in its natural shape, polishing it to reveal its most beautiful hues. Strength and power are the watchwords of the turquoise worked by Navajo jewelers.

Unlike them, Zuni artists work turquoise with great precision, earning the name of one of their techniques: Needle Point. Needle Point belt buckles are often made in the shape of rosettes: beautiful flowers called Cactus Flowers, composed entirely of turquoise stones delicately cut into the shape of drops or small baguettes.

Inlaid belt buckles

Inlay is an impressive and delicate form of jewelry-making, in which Zuni artists excel. Some Navajo artists can also create inlaid belt buckles.

This fine jewelry technique is identified by its geometric or figurative forms: artists compose a motif from fine stones and natural materials, which they cut and polish by hand.

Belt buckles: what shapes?

Oval or round belt buckles

Our oval or round belt buckles are emblematic accessories that will complement any outfit in denim, leather, suede, silk, tweed, wool... Dare to take the belt buckle out of context!

The oval or round shape of the buckles is called a “concho”. They can be found as a single buckle on a piece of leather, as we're talking about here, but they are also in several models on the same belt. These are known as concho belts.

These belt buckles can be made entirely of sterling silver, embossed with various motifs or more refined, but can also be set with one or more turquoise stones. Round belt buckles or oval belt buckles are good essentials, unisex accessories that will complete your style.

Rectangular belt buckles

Belt buckles are just as iconic, and are sure to please if you're looking for a unisex piece of jewelry to accessorize your various outfits.

The rectangular belt buckles we have at Harpo can be all-silver, slim and sleek. But we also have much more massive and elaborate rectangular belt buckles, which will bring strength and character to your outfit. Of course, these rectangular belt buckles can also be set with beautiful turquoise stones.