Natural Pilot Mountain Turquoise Bracelet

The Pilot Mountain turquoise in this sterling silver bracelet includes small bits of pyrite. It is a beautiful dark teal color that was impossible to capture in the photos.  Handmade by Navajo jeweler Shirley Henry, it has a large stone in the center with eight smaller stones around the outside.  The smaller stones have a repousse star in between each one.  On each side of the stones are hand-stamped leaves.  The cuff is tufa cast. Stamped "SH" and "STERLING" inside. More about the process of tufa cast jewelry making below. Size: 5.25" Long with 1" Opening Tufa 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 tightly together and molten silver