For over fifty years, Northern Cheyenne artist Ben Nighthorse has created beautiful, award winning jewelry designs using the finest gemstones and precious metals.

Ben 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 Asian culture. This can be seen today in his world class work.

After he moved back to the United States, he and his wife, Linda, became champion horse trainers. His love of horses, and animals in general, helped him to 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 designs.

Ben Nighthorse also started to focus on using finer materials in his jewelry which were more desired by his European collectors. He uses only the finest natural gemstones, and insists on using 18 karat gold and sterling silver.