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Navajo First Phase Style Alpaca Silver Concho Belt

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 800.00 USD
Navajo First Phase Style Alpaca Silver Concho Belt
For your consideration is a large Navajo Native American First Phase style Alpaca Silver concho belt. Alpaca Silver is an imitation sterling silver. This bright silvery-grey metal alloy is made up of copper, zinc and nickel and sometimes iron. The term for this alloy in Mexico, Central America, and South America is Alpaca Silver rather than Nickel Silver. In 1823 there was a contest among German & Austrian metalwork companies to develop an alloy that most closely appeared visually similar to silver. After the manufacturer, Berndorf AG, trademarked and made popular the brand name Alpacca, this term was used more frequently than the term Nickel Silver. One of the big advantages to purchasing Alpaca silver is that it is a hypoallergenic metal. Another advantage is that it is durable and flexible. This first phase style belt showcases eight large 4 1/8” x 3 1/8” Alpaca silver conchos, strung on a black leather belt. These conchos all show a traditional western stamped design. The belt measures 48” long when undone.