Lucky Fish Bolo Tie - Sugilite, Opal, Kingman Turquoise

This Lucky Fish bolo tie was made by award-winning Yaqui jeweler Michael Horse. The scenic sun, forest, and lake were engraved in tufa and then cast in silver (more about the process of tufa cast jewelry below). A high-grade, gem purple sugilite fish catches the eye (more about sugilite below). A brilliant Mexican opal radiates from the sun, and a natural Kingman bead represents the water. It moves along braided brown leather and ends in sterling silver tips. Signed by Michael on the back. More about Michael Horse.

Size: 2.675 H x 1.975" W - Length of leather to the sterling silver tips 44" 

Tufa Cast Jewelry: Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound together tightly and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again.

Sugilite: Gem grade sugilite is very rare and has been since it was discovered in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa in 1981. The stone was brought to the world-famous Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show a few years later where it caused much excitement including to the owner of Gathering Tribes who at that time owned a lapidary and rock shop in Californa. The highest grade of sugilies is called gem sugilite and is translucent and even more rare. There is no more new purple gem sugilite coming from Earth.