Virginia Tso: A Legacy of Navajo Pearls

Navajo Pearls are handmade sterling silver beads created through a meticulous, time-honored process that has been passed down through generations of Diné (Navajo) silversmiths. Unlike mass-produced silver beads, each Navajo Pearl is individually crafted by hand, resulting in subtle variations that reflect the maker’s skill, patience, and artistry. These slight imperfections are not flaws, but rather hallmarks of authenticity.

Three strands of Navajo Pearls

The traditional process begins by melting heavy-gauge sterling silver and rolling it into flat sheets of uniform thickness. From these sheets, small circular discs are carefully cut. Each bead is made from two discs, and at this stage some artists choose to hand-stamp designs into the silver while it is still flat.

The artist is stamping out discs using this press and a hammer.

Once each disc is cut, then it can be rounded out using this cube and the tool in his hand. This is done for each half of the bead.

Next comes doming, also known as dapping. Each disc is hammered into a half-sphere using doming tools and blocks. Once domed, a hole is punched at the center, and the two halves are precisely filed so they fit together seamlessly. The halves are then soldered together—often with solder placed inside the hole to ensure a clean, nearly invisible seam.

filing the bottoms of each of the bead halves so that they will fit together smoothly before they are soldered.

Soldering the bead halves together to make one bead using a flame to melt the solder.

Sanding the seams of the soldered beads before stringing them.

After soldering, the beads are filed smooth, polished, and frequently oxidized using a sulfur-based solution to create a dark patina. This oxidation enhances the beads’ antique appearance and highlights any stamped or textured designs. Finally, the finished beads are strung onto wire or chain to form necklaces, bracelets, or earrings.

Because this process is so labor-intensive, authentic Navajo Pearls are highly valued. The time, craftsmanship, and cultural knowledge involved set them apart from machine-made versions, even though the term “Navajo Pearls” is sometimes loosely applied to similar-looking beads produced without traditional methods. Traditional Navajo pearls in both shiny and patina finishes are available at Tanner Tradition in Ruidoso, NM.

The Meaning Behind Navajo Pearls

Beyond their beauty, Navajo Pearls carry deep cultural significance. They represent tradition, creativity, resilience, and a strong connection to heritage and nature. Each bead tells a story—of the hands that shaped it and the generations that preserved the craft. Navajo Pearls are not simply jewelry; they are living symbols of history and identity, a legacy you can wear.

Virginia Tso: A Living Tradition

Virginia Tso is pictured above wearing a large set of her Navajo Pearls.

One of the most respected artists continuing this tradition is Virginia Tso, a renowned Navajo jeweler from Pinedale, Arizona. Virginia has specialized in handmade sterling silver beads since the 1970s, carrying forward a family tradition that spans multiple generations. She learned silversmithing from her paternal grandmother, Helen, who lived to the age of 108. Helen, in turn, learned from her father, Sam Silversmith—a name earned through his exceptional skill and the respect he held within the community.

Virginia and her husband, Morris, honored this heritage while adding their own creativity, producing beads in a wide range of styles, shapes, and sizes. Their work includes round beads, flat beads, melon beads, fluted beads, and saucer beads, strung in countless lengths and combinations. Like their ancestors, they begin by melting down scrap silver, rolling it into sheets, cutting shapes, doming each bead, stamping or shaping, punching holes, soldering the halves together, and then filing and buffing to either a high shine or a soft, oxidized satin patina.

Virginia Tso is among the few Navajo silversmiths today who still make sterling silver beads entirely by hand, preserving an art form that continues to shine brightly in the present while honoring the past.