The makers of Native American turquoise jewelry are categorized into four major groups. The first are the Rio Grande Pueblos whose people live along the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. The Santo Domingo Indians are represented in this category and are by far the most prolific. The Navajo’s live on reservations in the states of New Mexico and Arizona. The Hopis live in villages in Arizona and are surrounded by the Navajo reservation. The Zunis live in villages which are totally isolated from the Rio Grande and Hopi Pueblos and adjoin the Navajo reservation in New Mexico.

There are numerous historical, traditional and geographical reasons for the differences in style, technique and materials used by each of these tribes. In knowing these factors, one can more easily identify the tribe maker of a particular piece of sterling silver jewelry. The personality and individual concepts of the maker tend to be a large part of  the overall design of  the finished product. Native American jewelry styles can often times be identified by the tribe which originated or frequently uses a particular technique. However, this is not always true in the case of the Hopi’s being widely known for their overlay work. Overlay is also made by the Zunis, Santo Domingans and especially th Navajos. The well known inlay techniques of the Zunis are also used by the Hopis, Santo Domingans and Taos Pueblo Indians in making their turquoise jewelry. Many pieces are the results of silversmiths of different tribes sharing ideas and techniques. As time goes on, the isolation of the various tribes becomes less and less so the uniqueness and purity of designs and styles are less obvious. Compared to the past, when Indians might never get very far off their own reservations or out of their villages, today they travel widely across the whole country. Current Native American jewelry is not only influenced by the work of other Indians but is also influenced by exposure to work displayed in museums, shops and galleries. The art is always changing and growing, based on the tradition of the past and influenced by the lifestyles of today.