J1741 Tim Busch
Orvil Jack and Sugalite inlay ring by Arizona silver and goldsmith Tim Busch. The 14 K gold ring has a .18 CTW diamond accent stone.
Size 7 3/4
Orvil Jack discovered and developed the Mine in northern Nevada that bears his name. The mine is in the Crescent Valley in the Blue Ridge area. The yellow-green color of the turquoise comes from the zinc content. Upon Orvil’s death, the mine is run by his daughter. This turquoise is highly prized and collected because of the unique color, and only a small amount is produced today.
Sugilite is a rare purple cyclosilicate mineral that was named after the Japanese petrologist, Ken-ichi Sugi, who first identified it in 1944 in Japan. However, this occurred as brownish-yellow grains that were not suitable for use as gemstones.
A significant deposit of gem-quality sugalite was discovered in 1979 at a manganese mine in the Southern Kalahari Desert of South Africa. In 1980 sugilite was officially classified as a rare gem, which caused its price to increase. Since then, additional deposits have been discovered, but since these are small, it remains a rare gem.
About the artist
Tim Busch
Tim Busch: "My appreciation for the Southwest was instilled in me from an early age and grew through my Mother’s love of the Native American Arts after we moved to Tempe, Arizona when I was six years old. I would accompany her to Byron Hunter’s Trading Post where she worked and various other places such as the Pow Wow in Flagstaff which extended my love and appreciation for the Southwest heritage and art. Another shop I often visited was Trader Gene’s in Scottsdale which is where in fact I purchased my first Turquoise Cabochon’s.
In the mid 1970’s I was attending college and working towards a degree in Commercial Art when a friend of mine showed me how to make a simple Silver ring. I was instantly fascinated with the art and quickly moved on to make a bracelet and squash blossom that I later took into a local jewelry manufacturer whom I was promptly hired on with. I knew at that time jewelry was the career path that I wanted to pursue.
In 1977 I began working for Aura, Inc. where I learned the art of lapidary. We created high end jewelry pieces for buyers such as Saks and Tiffany & Co. Some of the pieces I inlayed throughout this time were featured in the April 1979 Collector’s Edition of Arizona Highway Magazine. My work has been and is currently featured in galleries and fine jewelry store throughout the Southwest.
Inspired by artists like Charles Loloma and Larry Golsh, I began working primarily in gold and incorporating precious and semi-precious stones into contemporary Southwest designs. My wife, Cora and I own a ranch in the White Mountains of Arizona where I draw daily inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding us. Each piece is started with an idea however the design typically changes throughout the process as I pull inspiration through the materials and different color combinations that I am working with to create a truly one of a kind piece. " Tim Busch
