Verma Nequatewa learned and carried forward the art of Hopi jewelry making and design in somewhat the same manner that Plato learned and carried forward the matter of philosophy.  Whereas Plato learned from Socrates for 18 years and then opened his own academy, Verma studied and worked with her uncle, Charles Loloma, for 27 years before inheriting his position as the pre-eminent Hopi jeweler and moving to her own studio when the Loloma studio closed after his incapacitating accident. 

Charles Loloma redefined the concept of what Native American jewelry could be and his works are revered not only for their innovation but also for the skill required to create them and, ultimately, their astounding beauty. First learning the basics of metallurgy and lapidary from Charles, then the guiding concepts of form and content, Verma eventually came to understand the many rich subtleties and nuances that separate and define a masterpiece from a fine work of art.  Always, however, her work remains true to a certain dictate— it must demonstrate respect for and pay homage to the Hopi way of life, which Verma practices daily as a traditional Hopi living on 3^rd Mesa.

Verma has been a leading Native American jeweler for the past 30 years.  Her works feature the highest quality materials available. The vision for each piece is guided by the materials that go into it and by Verma’s own intentions; that symbiosis of inspiration then allows for its creation. Verma learned and carries forward the understanding that, when a work is being constructed, there is only absolute precision with which every step and detail must be performed. The end result is jewelry that has distinguished styling, is refined yet visionary, and leads one to consider something else, something distant and ageless.