Ben Nighthorse Jewelry

     For over fifty years, Northern Cheyenne artist Ben Nighthorse has created beautiful, award winning jewelry using the finest gemstones and precious metals.
     Nighthorse moved to Tokyo in 1960 to train for the 1964 Olympic games, where he captained the U.S. Olympic Judo Team. In Japan, his interest in metal working grew when he studied under a Samurai sword maker. He began to develop techniques of laminating metals and jewelry designs which were heavily influenced by his time in the Asian culture. This can be seen today in his world class work.
     After moving back to the United States, he and his wife, Linda, became champion horse trainers. His love of horses, and animals in general, helped him create new, innovative designs. American Indians often believe that a person can inherit some of an animal's virtues by wearing an image of it. That is one reason why noble animals have always played an important role in Nighthorse's designs.
     Nighthorse also started to focus on using finer materials in his jewelry, which were more desired by his European collectors. His uses only the finest natural gemstones, and insists on using 18 karat gold and sterling silver. Today, Nighthorse's work stands apart from so much jewelry made with lesser materials. If you own a piece, you'll understand why it is in such demand.