Native American Wedding Bands

Native American Jewelry

Because Native American tribes did not typically smelt metal for jewelry, wedding rings are not an ancient custom for many native peoples. On the other hand, jewelry and adornments have always been popular for ceremonial purposes, and it is a natural extension then to incorporate native symbolism into wedding bands. Heavy symbolism can include tribal distinctions, geographic elements, and personal symbols as well to make the rings especially meaningful and to honor the couple’s heritage and cultural connections.

About Native American Symbolism

From South America to Alaska, Native American tribes have several common connections that are prevalent in the symbols used for their jewelry, including:

• Animals: Many Native American tribes deified animals, both as personal protectors and as providers for the tribe. Totem animals and other symbolic creatures are often incorporated into tribal jewelry. Wolves, horses, and eagles are especially popular, but any animal could have a significant connection depending on the tribe and the individual the jewelry is fashioned for.
• Plants: Just as animals are sacred to native tribes, so too are plants. Many ring designs incorporate leaf or flower motifs as well as trees and full landscapes including waterfalls, waves, mountains, cliffs, or other natural features. This also symbolizes the land that is sacred to the tribe and keeps the ring’s wearer connected to that land wherever they may be.
• Gems: Certain gemstones, particularly turquoise, opal, jade, and onyx, are especially sacred to many native tribes. Using these types of semi-precious gemstones in Native American wedding rings makes them not only beautiful, but even more culturally significant.

Designs for Native American Wedding Bands

Unlike many diamond wedding rings that are limited in design based on popular precious metals and diamond configurations, Native American designs are richly diverse. Popular designs and characteristics include:

• Metals: Many tribal rings are fashioned from silver, though gold and platinum can also be found.
• Non-Metal Rings: Some tribal jewelry artists specialize in non-metal rings that may be considered more closely connected to the land. Wood and hemp rings are increasingly popular, and some rings may be carved directly from stones such as hematite, jade, or quartz.
• Gem Cuts: Whereas contemporary rings use faceted stones almost exclusively, Native American wedding rings are much more likely to use polished or cabochon gems that are smooth and more natural-looking.

Rock art may inspire ring designs.

• Carvings: Many tribal designs include engravings, etchings, or carvings of popular symbols such as animals, plants, feathers, or images similar to rock art and cave drawings from particular tribes.
• Colors: Native American wedding bands are far more colorful than their traditional counterparts. Colors were highly symbolic to native tribes, and incorporating blue, red, white, green, brown, and other shades adds another layer of meaning to the ring.
• Stones: The semi-precious gems used in Native American designs are much more widely varied than other rings. Jade, mother of pearl, lapis, agate, turquoise, opal, onyx, and other stones are frequently found in tribal rings, whereas diamonds are used far more rarely.
• Patterns: Geometric patterns of metals and inlaid gems can create subtle symbolism in many tribal designs.

Finding Native American Rings

Many Native American jewelry artisans fashion a range of rings that can become gorgeous alternative wedding rings. When choosing a Native American ring, however, couples should pay careful attention to the inherent symbolism of the ring in order to honor the culture as the ring intends. Couples may choose rings related to specific tribes – Sioux, Cherokee, Maya, Aztec, Blackfoot, Ottawa, Chippewa, Arapahoe, and Inuit are just a few – for their personal heritage, or they may select a ring from a tribe whose ancestral lands included a geographic location special to their relationship. Couples may also choose a ring simply because they admire and appreciate the beauty of the incredible craftsmanship necessary to design it.

In areas such as the southwestern United States, where many tribes still live, couples can easily find Native American jewelry and wedding rings. Couples far removed from those lands, however, will need to investigate online jewelers for a good selection of designs. Retailers offering Native American jewelry and wedding rings include:

Calvin Begay Turquoise Band

• Bear Claw Jewelry
• Ben Nighthorse
• Native American Traditions
• Native Arts Trading
• The Navajo Silversmith
• American Trails
• Eagle Rock Trading Post
• Touch Wood Rings

Other Native American Options

Some couples may want to include Native American symbolism in their wedding ceremonies but may not find rings that suit their preferences. Fortunately, tribal cultures are rich in ceremonial rites and there are many things a couple can include in their festivities, either for engagement parties or the wedding itself, such as:

• Tribal Music
• Native Dances
• Specialized Attire
• Cultural Foods
• Sacred Dates
• Ceremonial Customs

Couples do not have to be of tribal descent to appreciate the layered symbolism and natural beauty of Native American wedding bands. Whether they are interested in these ring designs to reflect their heritage or simply to display beautiful tribal artistry, there are many Native American designs to choose that can be as personalized and spiritual as the couple desires.