7 Mistakes to Avoid while Buying any Native American Jewelry for sale
Native American jewelry is not only beautiful, but they also have a cool vibe to them that makes them unique pieces. They come in various forms, designs and attached with colorful gemstones that can give off a luxurious aura to any attire. However, similar to other hot jewelry trends, you can stumble across many of their imitations. Whilst they may be priced cheaply or have more delicate designs, there is a clear difference between authentic pieces and duplicates.
To prevent such forgeries, the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA) was established in 1988. Although since then, there has been a rapid decline in the misrepresentation of these tribal art forms, several frauds are still operational. So, if you are searching for the most-genuine Native American jewelry for sale, you need to heed these precautionary measures.
Busting fakes from genuine materials is no rocket-science. You just need to listen, watch, and understand the text or the tone of the seller carefully.
Watch the difference
When searching for tribal jewelry online, you must have come across terms like "Hopi style," "American style," etc. Although you may find nothing suspicious in the first look, careful observation can prevent you from making expensive mistakes. The word 'style' is generally used for describing jewelry that is actually inspired by a particular art form. Also referred to as replicas, Native Americans might not have necessarily designed the 'American style' necklace. As ATADA legalizes the sale of replicas, remembering this step can be a lifesaver.
Track Repetitions
Many-a-times, frauds try selling an exact piece week over week at different prices. So, if you are finding a particular piece of jewelry popping up in your searches every time you log into the shopper’s website, it might be fake. The reason being, tribal jewelry is hand-made and bears different meanings. Thus their probability of repetitions is very scarce. Zuni, Navajo, and Indian jewelry are not mass-produced and definitely don't come with the same hallmark.
Uncertainty of Origins
Every tribal jewelry differs from each other. Whilst some have different symbols and designs, the elements used in others might be tribe-specific. Thus, it is essential to have the basic understanding and capability of differentiating between various pieces. Sometimes you may stumble across sites or sellers claiming certain tribal jewelry as another, including a whole different backstory about it to make it seem more genuine. This however states their own uncertainty about the product's origin, and thus they try to cover up with blasphemies. In such cases determining the truth can save you from investing in the wrong place.
Get Written Statements
If a certain seller is claiming to handle untreated natural turquoise without adding any other elements, make sure to get it in writing. Turquoise is a naturally-occurring gemstone that is notorious for its crumbly and slippery texture. Handling the stone is very difficult and hence requires the addition of other natural elements for strengthening. But, if the seller claims that they have used special resins or made the turquoise from a plastic material 'block’, it may actually be fake. Only purchase from them when they submit a written document. The fair chances are that the fake seller would back off immediately and never trouble you again.
The Visual Test
Authentic jewelry is always well-made, with all designs in the perfect position. Stones and charms are fitted perfectly into their settings without any visible oddness to them. Thus, never forget to practically check every nook and corner of the NativeAmerican jewelry for sale before handing the seller money. It is quite easy to catch fakes as they often arrive with lopsided designs, ill-fitted stones, and sometimes with glue visible to naked eyes. You can also ask for the jewelry's originality card. Through this, you can find out every detail regarding the creation and modifications of the elements. While genuine sellers won't mind handing it, the unsureness of fake ones can be leveraged for avoiding shopping with them.
Cheaper Deals
Genuine tribal jewelry is never cheap. The unique hand-made designs, usage of certain rare stones and elements, and human labor make the pieces mesmerize and sky-high priced. Although you may sometimes find good deals while purchasing them, they are never sold at unbelievably low prices. Thus, the instant you find someone selling in half the rates, make an immediate U-Turn. Reportedly, hundreds of customers are looted on a regular basis by fake jewelry sellers claiming imitations to be authentic. Thus, no matter the price they take, only you would end up as the loser with nothing but a fake stone in your hands.
Customer testimonials
Finding the right seller for purchasing Native American jewelry for sale is one of the most important tasks. Thus, it is often advised to list out a particular list of popular tribal jewelry sellers before jumping to shopping. Investing with experts will aid you to get the most genuine pieces while handing money to an ignominious seller will only result in guilt. A better way to do this is to carefully read through their services, specialties, and testimonial pages. Going through these long paragraphs can come in handy in judging if the seller is trustworthy or not. Also, try seeking out referrals from your friends and relatives, or search through various social media platforms.
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