Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10
Michael Horse

Tufa Cast Bear Paw Ring with Natural Bisbee Turquoise - Size 10

mh000089

$640.00 Save $-640.00
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This cigar band, tufa cast ring has a wonderful texture.  Award-winning Yaqui jeweler, actor, and artist, Michael Horse, carved bear paws into the tufa which surround the natural Bisbee turquoise.  It is made to last many, many generations.  More about tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 10 - Band: 1.125" Wide in front & .375" in back

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.  If there the jeweler has a design in mind, 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.  It is one of the oldest methods of metal jewelry making.