Concho Belts (Concha Belts) Concho Belts are among the most striking pieces of Native American Indian jewelry. … Concho Belts are almost always made of sterling silver with detailed hand-stamped designs, and often have set or inlaid stones of Turquoise, Lapis, Coral, etc.

How are concho belts worn?

They were strung vertically on red trade cloth, horse hair, or leather. Men would wear this stripe of adornment in their hair and women would wear them as belts, sometimes reaching six feet long. … Example of a Southern Plains Indian concho belt.

What is Navajo Concho?

The classic concho belt (named for concha, the Spanish for shell) was first created by Navajo silversmiths inspired by silver items from other cultures – most likely from Spanish buckles and German silver hair plate decorations traded by Europeans to Plains peoples.

Do men wear concho belts?

, and these belts are a long standing tradition for men in the Southwest.

What is a Concha in jewelry?

Clear. Sort. The concha belt is one of the oldest forms of Navajo silversmithing and personal adornment. The earliest concha belts, known as First Phase, were made entirely of silver and featured simple stamped designs. The conchas had triangular cutouts through which the leather belt was looped.

What is a silver concho?

History. The word concho comes from the Spanish “concha” which actually means “conch” or “seashell” but has come to mean round or oval disks (occasionally rectangles) of silver used to decorate saddles, bridles, clothing, used as jewelry such as for pendants and bolo ties and for adorning or making belts.

What is the purpose of a Concho?

Conchos come from the Mexican vaquero tradition and serve both a decorative and a utilitarian role on western saddles. Conchos are metal disks, traditionally with two slits to allow saddle strings to pass through and secure the saddle’s skirts to the saddle tree.

How do you wear Conchos?

The conchos can be slid along the leather as desired to position them perfectly for your waist size. You can also remove the conchos and buckle from the leather strip provided and place the conchos on a favorite belt that you already own.

Who invented Conchos?

The traditional Concho belt is often credited to the Navajo and Zuni tribes, people indigenous to the Southwestern United States.

What are Concho made of?

Concho Belts are almost always made of sterling silver with detailed hand-stamped designs, and often have set or inlaid stones of Turquoise, Lapis, Coral, etc.

Article first time published on

What is a Native American Concho?

Home>Native American Jewelry>Concho Belts. ** Concho Belts** The word concho, sometimes spelled concha, comes from the Spanish word meaning shell. Some of the first “conchos” were made of melted silver dollars and resembled a shell—it is commonly thought this is how the name came about.

What is a leather Concho?

Conchos, silver decorative pieces for leather, are used to embellish saddles, boots, belts or holsters. Conchos were introduced by Native American’s centuries ago. Early conchos were made from shells and stones and later, hammered silver dollars strung leather.

Where is Rio Conchos?

The Río Conchos (Conchos River) is a large river in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It joins the Río Bravo del Norte (known in the United States as the Rio Grande) at the town of Ojinaga, Chihuahua.