Multi-Color inlay belt buckle by: Sanford & Diane Cooche

Zuni multi-color inlay belt buckle by S & D Cooche

Beautiful multi-color inlay belt buckle. Handcrafted by Zuni artists Sanford & Diane Cooche. Set in solid sterling silver with genuine stones such as turquoise, white mother of pearl, black jet and red coral. The main buckle measures 2" x 1", the keepers are 1" x 3/8" and the tip measures 1-1/2" x 3/4". Colorful and highly crafted this a beautiful piece. A FREE leather belt is included with the purchase of this buckle.

Red coral  comes from certain areas, such as the Mediterranean, where the specific water temperature and conditions allow coral to thrive. Coral is a hardened tube or branch. Only about 10% of coral is considered jewelry quality. Coral comes in shades from blood-red to orange to pink to white. Although coral has been used by Stone Age peoples as long as 30,000 years ago to decorate sepulchers (burial vaults), Native American artists have only used coral for the last 600 years.

Jet(black)  is a product of high-pressure decomposition of wood from millions of years ago, commonly the wood of trees. Jet is found in two forms, hard and soft. Hard jet is the result of carbon compression and salt water; soft jet is the result of carbon compression and fresh water. Native American Navajo and Pueblo tribes of New Mexico were using regionally mined jet for jewelry and the ornamentation of weapons when early Spanish explorers reached the area in the 1500’s.Today these jet deposits are known as Acoma jet, for the Acoma Pueblo.

White & Gold Mother of Pearl The provenance story of the White Mother of Pearl shell begins in the remote crystal-clear turquoise waters of Northern Australia, nurturing and growing the sought after White South Sea Pearls. The lustrous pearly white color of the shells reflects the pristine natural environment in which they are formed and shells from this area are renowned to have the purest white coloring.

Kingman Turquoise originates in the Mineral Park Mining District near Kingman, Arizona. One of the largest domestic turquoise mines, it is found in a large open pit copper mine in the high desert country. The Kingman Mine district was first mined by Native Americans; it was part of the most extensive prehistoric workings in Arizona. However, modern production of turquoise dates back to the 1880's when James Haas rediscovered the area.