JSW433 Sandcast Buckle

Sterling silver sandcast buckle with cut out style. The 2 1/2” x 2” buckle has a 7/8” x 1/2” Carico Lake cabochon. Made for a 2 3/8” belt

With the sandcasting technique, a mold for jewelry is created out of sand. The Navajo were the first to adapt this technique for silversmithing. Sand casting creates a matte finish with an antique feel as opposed to a more high-shine finish. Every piece of Navajo Indian jewelry created by sand casting is truly a one-of-a-kind piece — the mold is destroyed by the molten silver. Sand casting is considered one of the most difficult silversmithing techniques to master, but the Navajo artists keep this rich tradition alive.