Explore Watson Honanie Hopi Jewelry Online

Watson Honanie is one of the most distinguished and accomplished contemporary Native American when it comes to silver and gold overlay jewelry. Each piece by Watson Honanie is a masterpiece and a unique work of art that portrays the Hopi way of life and ceremonies. His uncles—Fred Kabotie and Porter Timecheand—encouraged him to pursue his Hopi jewelry-making at a very young age. Watson Honanie started with scraps of silver and crafted small pieces like earrings. His brother, Phillip, taught him overlay technique, and he honed his craft and expertise by working at the Silvercraft Guild for two years prior to stepping out on his own.

Every piece of Watson Honanie Hopi jewelry is a one-of-a-kind treasure. Inspired by the rich Hopi culture, he takes inspiration from Hopi kachinas and Pueblo pottery. One of his most prized works is a concho belt that is made of gold and silver overlay and coral, and it earned first place at the Santa Fe Indian Market in 1992. These days, he mainly focuses on gold overlay jewelry. In fact, he is acclaimed for his innovations in gold overlaying techniques. Many of his latest designs depict ceremonial dancers, Hopi villages, petroglyphs, and tribal clans.

Along with gold, Watson Honanie typically uses gem grade turquoise and, sometimes even diamonds in his pieces. One of his notable creations is a spectacular solid 14K gold bear clan design bolo tie. The piece features incredible solid gold overlay with a design inspired by the Hopi bear clan. The bolo represents a bear's power. Watson Honanie designed the bolo intricately and crafted the heavy gauge gold tips by hand. Watson’s extraordinary jewelry is sold in limited quantities through authorized online stores specializing in rare natural American turquoise and fine Native American jewelry

Watson Honanie picks only the finest gem grade stones for his pieces. A good example of such a creation is the 18K gold and silver overlay ring, which features an eye-catching rare gem grade natural Lander Blue spiderweb cabochon. The turquoise was mined in Nevada, and the band features Hopi symbols and turtles, with a water design depicting elegant waves on the underside. Some of Watson Honanie's creations feature a lovely weather design, which is created by overlaying a sheet of solid 14K onto sterling silver, a complex and difficult process that only a few talented crafters can do.

Turquoise Direct is one of the most prominent sellers of authentic handmade turquoise jewelry, designed by award winning Native American artists, including Julian Lovato, Harry H.