Tufa Cast Royston Turquoise Pendant by Zaunnie Secatero with Pillow Bead Necklace by Michelle Jamison

This gorgeous pendant features a stunning piece of Royston turquoise in a long, narrow oval polished to a shine and surrounded with a starburst pattern in sterling silver. The pillow beads of the necklace chain boast classic hand-stamped details, making this piece the perfect combination of modern and classic Southwestern style.

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.

Royston turquoise is known for its beautiful deep green to rich light blue colors. These unique color ranges are what make this stone so special. Royston stones are often two-tone, displaying both dark and light green and sometimes blue. Royston has a heavy matrix ranging from dark brown to gold in color. This matrix makes for beautiful combinations with the color variations of the stone.

• Materials: Royston Turquoise, Sterling Silver
• Pillow beads measure 22" long, 1/2" wide, Pendant measures 2" wide by 3 3/4" high.
• Hallmarks: Pendant is stamped "Zaunnie" and ".925," Pillow beads are stamped "MJ"