Begay, Robert Sterling Silver Tufa Cast Turquoise Ring

$1,200.00

Begay, Robert

Robert Begay, son of Rebecca and Darryl Dean Begay, continues his family’s Navajo legacy of tufa cast jewelry. He carries forward their tradition with a focus on high-quality tufa casting and the use of high-quality stones.

This sterling silver ring features a high-grade Apache Blue turquoise stone set in a smooth, satin-polished bezel that contrasts beautifully with the textured surface created by the tufa casting. On each side of the center stone, Robert has carved hand designs directly into the tufa, accenting them with additional Lone Mountain turquoise stones.

Dimensions: 7/8th W taper to 5/16th

Ring Size: 8 3/4

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Artist:

Robert Begay (Navajo)
Robert Whitehair Begay is a Navajo jeweler continuing the legacy of his parents, Rebecca and Darryl Dean Begay—both highly respected for their work in tufa cast jewelry. Raised in a home where art and tradition were inseparable, Robert began carving tufa stone at just four years old. By the time he was six, he had already earned recognition for his work, winning first place for a silver tufa cast seed pot and third place for a painting at the 2009 Santa Fe Indian Market.

Robert’s work reflects the deep roots of Navajo silversmithing but also shows a clear voice of his own. He uses the traditional method of tufa casting, carving each design by hand into soft volcanic stone before pouring molten silver into the mold. His jewelry often includes meaningful carved imagery—such as hand designs or animal forms—and is paired with high-grade natural stones like Lone Mountain turquoise.

In 2019, Robert received the “Best of Youth” award at both the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial and the SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market for his pieces Cheii’s Land and Cheii’s Style. These early accolades speak to his talent and commitment to continuing—and evolving—his family’s legacy.

Now forging his own path as a silversmith, Robert brings forward the teachings of his parents while adding new ideas and energy to the tradition.

Tufa casting is an ancient and revered metalworking technique used predominantly by Navajo and other Southwestern Native American jewelers. The process involves carving a design into a soft, porous volcanic stone known as tufa, which is composed of compressed volcanic ash. Tufa stone is ideal for casting due to its ease of carving and ability to withstand high temperatures.

To begin, the artist cuts and sands two matching tufa stones, creating a mold by hand-carving the desired design into one half. A funnel-like channel is also carved to allow molten metal—usually sterling silver or gold—to be poured into the mold. The two stone halves are then bound together and pre-heated to remove moisture, which prevents cracking during casting. Once the molten metal is poured in and cooled, the mold is broken open, revealing a one-of-a-kind piece.

Tufa casting is prized for its texture—the stone imparts a natural, grainy surface to the metal, giving the finished jewelry a distinct organic look and feel. Many artists embrace this texture as a signature element of their work, often finishing the piece with additional hand stamping, polishing, or stone inlay.

This method allows for artistic freedom and individuality, as each mold is used only once, making every tufa cast piece truly unique. Tufa casting reflects a deep respect for tradition and craftsmanship, preserving a hands-on, ancestral approach to jewelry making that continues to inspire contemporary Native artists today.