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Casual Day is now a part of American Culture. RLLC.Com's Casual Tie designs are special bolo (or bola) ties created for Work Casual Day or any casual day. RLLC.Com's Casual Ties are identified by the "rllc" symbol (trademark) in bear-claw-like design. Typically, the "rllc" would be at the bottom of the bola with a stone at the top. It is possible to have engraved black onyx (similar to college rings) as the stone although any stone can be used. The engraved stone could contain the name of your personal RLLC, your employer's name, your high school or college name or any name you wish. The approximate cost for a personalized engraved stone would be $250.00 for tooling and approximately $40.00 for each stone (this option would generally be for large groups such as a graduating class or many employees of a company). Encrusting is another feature available on stones from Herff Jones.
An alternative to having the engraved stone is to have your company name or whatever name engraved in a semicircle around the stone on the silver part of the Casual Tie. This would be less cost than the engraved stone. The stone could then be a brigther color, turquoise is commonly used.
The Casual Tie designs employ something called the overlay design. The "rllc"
and the circle for the stone are cut out one piece
of silver. This piece is then soldered onto another piece of silver. The area exposed by
the "rllc"cut-out and the circle cutout is either oxidized ( to give it a black
look), filed with crushed stone, or filled with enamel. We like the effect of silver,
blue, and black, so if we use a black stone, the rllc could be filled with crushed
turquoise. If the stone is turquoise we could either oxidize the rllc or fill it with
black enamel. It seems a waste to pay for silver and then blacken it but the overlay
design is very popular and does highlight the cutout area against the silver.
The advantage of a black onyx stone is that, it can show the name of your company or your relationship to someone within conversation distance, but would be hard to see for far away. Also, we have not seen the black onyx used in conventional Indian style bolas, so the use of it on the Casual Tie would set it apart and put the Casual Tie more in line with college rings. We would like to see the Casual Tie become a common option to the market of people who purchase high school and college rings as well as the Corporate logo-merchandise market. Some one is more likely to take notice of a object hanging from your neck than one on your finger.
copyright 1997
The circle design (not shown) is also a common bola design. In a circle the rllc would be either at the bottom with a stone at the top (as with the oval) or in the middle of the circle.
According to Ervin Fox & Company , the bolo/bola tie was invented by Arizonian silversmith, Victor Cedarstaff. "The name comes from its resemblance to the leather bolas used by Argentinean gauchos. While both are made of long braided leather, the Argentinean bolas are attached to leather-wrapped stones and are used to hunt South American rheas and ostriches. The Arizona version is usually finished with silver balls called bola tips and worn as an accessory".
Click this title Southwestern Indian Jewelry for a good book on Indian Jewelry making, also Indian Jewelry Making, Volume I and Bolo Tie: Symbol of the West. Click on Garnet Block Products for a book and kit to make your own Bolo/Bola Tie.
Bola It
It is possible to create your own bola tie. If you have an object that you would like to wear as a bola/bolo, you may purchase bola backs and tie cords. "Double-adhesive Quick Stik (tm) bolo pads are die cut to fit metal bolo backs (the metal part that the cord goes through and which holds your object). So you can stick the adhesive bolo pad to the metal bolo back and then attach your object to the adhesive which is attached to the metal.
PolyShrink sheets can be printed on with colored pencils, markers, acrylic paints, rubber stamps and even printed on by color printers. You first create your design by printing it or drawing it on the PolyShrink sheets. The PolyShrink sheet is then baked in an oven (could be toaster oven). The sheets thicken and harden during baking with your design on it. The PolyShrink Kit includes a book and six sheets. All items are available through http://www.riogrande.com
For ordering information, please e-mail us rllc@relationshipllc.com.
Ervin Fox & Company sells something called a Foto Bola which allows you to cut out a picture and place it inside a round frame.
The picture below is a sample of Bobbie Tewa's work from the book Southwestern
Indian Jewelry: 
The Companies below have some very nice Bolo/Bola Ties for you to consider. They are presented in no particular order
You may e-mail us for contact info if you are unable to reach this site
Thomas Turquoise
Trading Company 
B-C Traditional Navajo Silverworks
Jal Southwest Indian Art
Galleria 
E-Mail Us at rllc@relationshipllc.com
® 1996
