There are some pieces of jewelry that transcend trend cycles entirely, and the squash blossom necklace is one of them. Bold, sculptural, and steeped in cultural significance, this iconic Southwest-inspired design has been making necks considerably more interesting for over a century. Whether you have been eyeing one for years or are newly acquainted with its unmistakable silhouette, the squash blossom necklace is the kind of statement piece that earns its place in a wardrobe and never, ever leaves. Once you own one, you will wonder what you were doing before.
The moment you start noticing the squash blossom necklace, you see it everywhere—on the necks of fashion editors, layered over boho sundresses, anchoring a crisp white shirt, or adding soul to an otherwise minimal outfit. There is a reason it has found such enthusiastic new audiences in recent years, and it goes deeper than aesthetics alone. Below, we explore the history behind this remarkable piece of jewelry and round up ten of the most beautiful squash blossom necklaces to shop right now, from rare vintage originals to contemporary interpretations in unexpected gemstones.
A History Worth Knowing
The Navajo squash blossom necklace is one of the most recognizable symbols of Native American jewelry-making, and its story is as layered as its design. The necklace as we know it today evolved in the late 19th century, when Navajo silversmiths began creating elaborate pieces inspired by the Spanish pomegranate motif brought to the Americas by Spanish colonizers. Those pomegranate-shaped silver beads were gradually transformed through the hands and creative vision of Navajo artisans into the squash blossom design—a flaring, flower-like element that gives the necklace its name.
At the center of every traditional piece hangs the naja, a crescent-shaped pendant whose own origins trace back through Moorish Spain and into ancient history. The naja was originally worn as a protective charm on horse bridles by the Spanish, adopted by the Navajo, and eventually became the dramatic focal point of the squash blossom necklace. It is a remarkable piece of design that carries centuries of cultural exchange within a single pendant.
Turquoise, of course, became the stone most synonymous with the style. Revered by the Navajo people for its spiritual significance, turquoise was incorporated into silverwork with extraordinary skill. The combination of sterling silver and vivid blue-green turquoise became the definitive aesthetic, though artists over the decades expanded the tradition to include coral, sugilite, amber, lapis, and more.
As for why the squash blossom necklace has found such a passionate global audience in recent years: the answer is a perfect convergence of cultural forces. The resurgence of boho and Southwestern style on fashion runways brought it renewed visibility, while growing consumer interest in authentic, handcrafted, and culturally significant jewelry has pushed buyers toward pieces with genuine provenance and artistry. Fashion is cyclical, but a well-made squash blossom necklace is not—it simply waits patiently for the world to catch up.
10 Squash Blossom Necklaces to Shop Now
Navajo Turquoise and Sterling Silver Squash Blossom Necklace
For collectors and jewelry lovers alike, it does not get more special than this. Dating to around 1940, this Navajo squash blossom necklace is a historic, Fleur-de-Lis design executed almost entirely in sterling silver, with a turquoise-tipped naja as its centerpiece. Delicate and finely crafted, it represents the quieter, more restrained end of the squash blossom tradition, which somehow makes it feel even more sophisticated. The chain can be adjusted to suit the wearer, making it as wearable as it is collectible.
Sterling Silver Multi-Color Gemstone Squash Blossom Necklace
Why choose one gemstone when you can have four? This inventive piece layers Kingman Turquoise, Orange Spiny Oyster, Lapis, and Green Turquoise across six cabochons, creating a warm, jewel-toned palette that is both cohesive and joyfully maximalist. The naja sits at center stage, and squash blossom stations punctuate the silver bead chain throughout. For the collector who wants it all in one necklace, this is it.
American West Sterling Silver Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklace
This is the necklace for someone who wants the full Southwestern experience in one piece. Seven cabochons of Kingman Turquoise—vivid as a New Mexico sky—are set in ornately cast sterling silver with serrated bezels and stamped sun ray detailing. Four squash blossom stations and a central naja complete a design that is equal parts frontier spirit and fine jewelry. Bold without being overwhelming.
Carol & Wilson Begay Sugilite and Silver Necklace
Here is proof that the Navajo squash blossom necklace tradition is very much alive and evolving. Created by Navajo artists Carol and Wilson Begay in 2006, this piece swaps the expected turquoise for deep, dramatic sugilite, a purple gemstone with a visual intensity that is genuinely striking. Silver beads lead to a crescent naja pendant, and at 22 inches, the length is perfectly calibrated for the layered, boho-adjacent dressing that dominates right now.
Sterling Silver Lapis Necklace
For those drawn to deeper, moodier color palettes, this lapis lazuli interpretation is a revelation. A double strand of sterling silver beads carries nine lapis stones, with six squash blossom stations each featuring an arrowhead-shaped lapis cabochon. The large central naja anchors the whole composition with confidence. The combination of the midnight blue stone and silver is rich and deeply sophisticated, one of the more luxurious-feeling options in this roundup.
Navajo Coral Necklace
Red coral and sterling silver is one of the great classic combinations in Navajo jewelry, and this necklace demonstrates exactly why. Seven coral cabochons anchor the naja, while coral-set blossom stations run the length of the necklace, all accented by twisted rope work and delicate hand-stamped details. It is warm, rich, and vibrant—a piece that looks equally at home with earth tones and with bold, saturated color.
Navajo Native Indian Sterling Silver Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklace
This piece feels like a love letter to mid-20th-century Navajo craftsmanship. Hand-formed blossom stations with applied wire detailing, traditional handmade silver beads, and a bold naja framed by multiple turquoise stones (each showing its own natural matrix) come together in a piece with genuine texture and depth. The vivid blue cabochons in classic oval and round cuts make this one of the more versatile turquoise options in this guide.
Sterling Silver Picture Jasper Pear-Cut Necklace
The most structurally intricate piece in this guide, this necklace earns its “statement jewelry” credentials fully. Five pear-cut Picture Jasper cabochons are set in serrated bezels with rope detailing, while a double row of native pearl beads graduates to a single row as it approaches the central naja—itself crowned with a Picture Jasper stone and concha flower beads at each end. It is layered, considered, and genuinely unlike anything else on this list. A showstopper in the truest sense.
Vintage E. Belone Navajo Sterling Silver Amber Squash Blossom Necklace
Amber is not the first stone one associates with squash blossom necklaces, and that is precisely what makes this piece so compelling. Signed by artist E. Belone, this vintage piece features honey-amber cabochons with natural inclusions that glow with warmth, each framed in hand-tooled sterling silver. The naja pendant is particularly dramatic, with multiple large amber stones arranged for maximum visual impact. Unexpected and utterly beautiful.
Sterling Silver Malachite Necklace
Malachite’s swirling green patterns bring something genuinely different to the squash blossom necklace tradition. This nickel-free sterling silver piece features six oval malachite cabochons, a central naja, and squash blossom stations set between round silver beads. At 17 inches with a three-inch extender, the length is exceptionally versatile. The result is a necklace that’s both Southwestern and surprisingly contemporary, the kind of piece that works harder than it looks.
The Bottom Line
Few pieces of jewelry carry as much history, artistry, and sheer visual impact as the squash blossom necklace. Whether you invest in a rare vintage Navajo original or reach for a contemporary interpretation in malachite or lapis, you are not just buying jewelry; you are buying a piece of a craft tradition that spans centuries. That is the kind of purchase that never needs justification.
Featured image: American West Jewelry
Lydia Oladejo is a creative writer with over seven years of experience writing intriguing stories and engaging content. As a Staff Writer at Sewelo, she explores the artistry and history of high jewelry, blending her expertise in storytelling with a passion for luxury design.
