Traditional Tufa Cast Turquoise Bracelet

Harrison Bitsue is a master at creating tufa cast jewelry, more about the jewelry making method of tufa cast below.  This bracelet has natural turquoise with golden matrix set it in the center.  The sterling silver above and below the turquoise resemble feathers with stamp-work.  The oxidized satin finish gives it a vintage appearance. 

Size: 4.75" L with 1" Opening - Center 1.25" H, narrows to .5" at the ends

Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk and 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 in reverse to how the piece will come out.   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.  This process usually makes one piece of jewelry, but sometimes the mold is good enough for more than one piece.