Tufa Cast Navajo Cross Cuff with Bisbee Turquoise by Kevin Yazzie

Hand crafted by renowned Master Navajo Artist and Silversmith Kevin Yazzie, this gallery style, collector's edition cuff is adjustable and features a centerpiece of polished natural Bisbee Turquoise and a New Mexico cross. The cuff itself features a zigzag pattern made by sand casting, also known as Tufa casting.

Tufa casting is a technique invented by Navajo silversmiths sometime between 1840 and 1860, whereby molten silver is poured into a mold carved into sandstone. It is a labor-intensive, hands-on process taking around three days from start to finish. The molds can only be used a few times before they are ruined by the heat from the molten metal.

Bisbee turquoise is perhaps one of the most valued and best types of turquoise ever produced. Having only ever been actively mined by one independent miner for a short 2 year period from 1972-1974, the turquoise is primarily a by-product of the large copper mining operation owned by the Phelps-Dodge company. The turquoise is quite hard, takes an outstanding polish and is one of the most expensive on the market today, if you can find it. As with any ultra-rare turquoise, material from other mines are occasionally misidentified as Bisbee by hopeful collectors or dubious/misinformed sellers.

• Dimensions: 2 7/8" across, 2 3/16" high, 2 1/4" deep
• Hallmarks: K, Sterling