Incredibly Elegant Jewelry by Darryl Dean Begay

Darryl Dean Begay makes some of the finest Native American jewelry pieces with tufa casting technique. Darryl has over a decade of experience in silversmithing, and his expertise earned him numerous accolades and wards at the Santa Fe Indian Market His distinctive and timeless jewelry is a perfect example of an artist’s deep connections to his Navajo culture and roots. This can be seen on many of his rings, bracelets, bolo ties, and rings.

He always seeks out the finest natural American turquoise with which to work. Gem grade turquoise always adds a pop of color to his creations and makes each of Darryl Dean Begay’s jewelry pieces more valuable as collectibles. Colors are crucial to his work as they reflect the customs of the Navajo. Apart from turquoise, Darryl Dean Begay uses other colorful stones like mother of pearl, lapis, and coral to make a statement with his jewelry. Many of his artisanal pieces feature traditional Christian and Navajo motifs, particularly on his tufa cast creations.

Some of his creations may seem simple at first, but a closer look will always reveal intricate details that discerning jewelry collectors will appreciate. His rare gem grade Indian Mountain spiderweb turquoise on solid 18K gold over tufa cast sterling silver bracelet is a good example of this. Outside is a sophisticated and wide cuff-like design with carving and hand-cast details within. The top is plain to draw attention to the Indian Mountain turquoise. The inside features a graceful dragonfly with a precious Bisbee gem on its abdomen. To complete the piece, Darryl personally carved ‘Hozho’, a Navajo word for spiritual harmony.

If you’re searching for an eye-catching piece, consider Darryl Den Begay’s rare gem grade Lone Mountain turquoise Dragonfly tufa cast bracelet, which features sophisticated carvings of a swarm of dragonflies over water. The dragonflies are carefully proportioned to cover the entire length of the cuff. Each creature has a Lone Mountain cabochon on its abdomen to contrast the silver finish of the piece.

Finely Detailed Tufa Cast Jewelry by Rebecca Begay

Rebecca Begay is one of the names associated with fine tufa cast Native American jewelry. She aspired to be an artist at an early age, and she was able to achieve her goal with her talent and expertise in creating finely detailed designs using the tufa cast method. Her husband, Darryl Begay, was the one who taught her the tufa casting technique, which she greatly enjoys as it allows her to create abstract and pictorial designs with her drawings. The same method lets her carve her unique designs before casting the piece. The softness of the material prevents her from achieving multiple casts from every carving, so she has a lot of inventory of tufa molds for every cast. You can be sure that every finely detailed tufa cast jewelry by Rebecca Begay is one-of-a-kind and expertly created from scratch.

The designs of tufa cast jewelry by Rebecca Begay are often inspired by who she is as a Navajo woman. Likewise, they are influenced by her motherhood, her artistry, and her life as a Christian and a loving wife. Her pieces are distinctive with accents of color to reflect Navajo customs, and to achieve this, she uses gem grade stones like turquoise and other gems like lapis lazuli, coral, and mother of pearl. Some of her most notable pieces of tufa cast jewelry include bracelets and pendants that feature intricate floral designs.

One of her best works is the solid 14K gold over tufa cast sterling silver floral pendant, which is suitable for everyday wear or as a treasured heirloom piece. For this piece, she hand-carved the tufa stone with her signature design and cast, which was deeply finished and oxidized. The pendant itself is striking with its solid 14K gold flower, which she created and overlaid by hand.

You can find some of Rebecca Begay’s finely detailed tufa cast pendants and bracelets online. Look up a reputable retailer that works directly with Native American artists and the miners of Arizona and Nevada to deliver the finest and authentic pieces to you. Each time you buy her jewelry, make sure that it is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity to assure you of her tribal affiliation and name, as well as the value of the piece and the materials she used in it.