Royston Boulder Turquoise Bolo with Hand-Stamped Tips by Bryant Martinez

Also known as Royston Ribbon, the Boulder turquoise mine is located in northeast Nevada.  It was originally discovered in the 1970’s by a Shoshone sheep herder who stumbled upon a vein of turquoise on the hillside while tending sheep. The mine has been developed as an open cut and constitutes the mine’s workings. The mine is marked by extensive bulldozer cuts on the east side of a small rounded hill.  Production from the property has been small due to the limited amount of time allowed to mine due to the remote location and winter weather conditions combine to make Boulder Turquoise valued for both its beauty and rarity.

This large oval piece of turquoise is tan in color, with inclusions of darker brown and shockingly bright blue. The setting is hand-tooled and stamped in a scallop frame that matches the detailed silver bolo tips.

Bryant Martinez is a self-taught Navajo silversmith born in To’hajiilee, NM in 1983. He is from the Water Edge (Mother) and Sage Brush (Father) Clans. His mother, Irene, was a smith, but she quit when he was born. He never got to watch or learn from her, but inherited her tools and dedicates much of his time to learning more of her traditions. He also wants to pass on his talent to the next generation. He now lives in Albuquerque with his three year old son, Elliot.