This high-grade Red Mountain turquoise has lovely spider webbing matrix running through it. Award-winning Yaqui jeweler Michael Horse set this beautiful stone in 14kt gold with a 14kt gold accent on each side of the bezel which are on a tufa cast band. Made to last generations! Michael inscribed his name inside the ring. More about Michael Horse and the process of making tufa cast jewelry below.
Size: 7 - Stone setting .75" H x .675" W
Michael Horse is an award-winning Yaqui jeweler who uses high quality stones in his work including natural high-grade turquoise, coral, lapis and more. He is most well-known for the intricate katsinas he fabricates in his studio, and he is a master tufa carver. He is also an award-winning ledger painter and actor with many roles in television and film. Many people recognize him from his role as Deputy Hawk in the ground breaking Twin Peaks television series.
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 microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again.