Vintage Sterling Silver and Turquoise Navajo Concho Belt

This antique Navajo sterling silver concho belt sourced personally by our founder Jean Marie, is a rare and timeless piece of Southwestern artistry, one that carries deep cultural meaning, historical heritage, and enduring beauty. Handcrafted using traditional Navajo silversmithing techniques, it features a series of stamped sterling silver conchos, each centered with a natural turquoise stone, and designed to be worn either as a belt or a hatband, making it a versatile collector’s piece with unmistakable character.

The concho (from the Spanish word concha, meaning “shell”) was first introduced to the Navajo people in the 19th century, inspired by Spanish and Mexican equestrian silverwork. Over time, Navajo artisans transformed the concho belt into a deeply symbolic form of dress and adornment, infusing it with their own cultural identity, storytelling, and spiritual meaning. Every concho is traditionally hand-stamped, sawed, shaped, and domed by hand, making no two ever alike. The stamped motifs you see, radiating lines, sunbursts, and organic forms, represent protection, harmony, the four directions, and the natural world.

Set at the heart of every concho is turquoise, the most sacred stone of the Southwest. Revered by Indigenous cultures for thousands of years, turquoise is believed to bring protection, wisdom, healing, and good fortune. To the Navajo, it is known as the “Sky Stone”, believed to connect the wearer to the heavens, to spirit, and to the earth’s life-giving waters. Its presence transforms this piece from adornment into talisman.

This particular concho belt’s slender design also makes it ideal as a hatband, adding heritage, authenticity, and personality to a favorite hat. Whether worn around the waist or styled atop a felt hat, it carries an effortless Western elegance rooted in history and craftsmanship. It is very comfortable to wear as it is not too heavy and the multiple punch holes allow one to wear if over light to heavier weight clothing.

More than an accessory, this sterling silver and turquoise concho belt represents tradition, artistry, and the legacy of Navajo silversmiths whose skills have been passed down through generations. A piece like this is cherished in both private collections and museum archives, not only for its beauty but for the culture and story it preserves.

Whether worn, displayed, or passed down, this antique Navajo concho belt is a piece of living history, infused with spirit, meaning, and the soul of the American Southwest.

Concho Dimensions: 2" x 2"

Belt Length: 39"

Belt Width: 1"

Holes Punched At: 34.5", 35.2", 36", 36", 37", 38"

Made in USA