Natural Candelaria Turquoise Ring Size 10

Michael Horse made this sterling silver ring and set a cabochon of natural Candelaria turquoise in a 14kt gold bezel.  The gold really sets off the turquoise!  The band is tufa cast - more about tufa cast jewelry below.

Size 10, stone is .5" x .5"

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.