You’re very welcome, Aaron. It’s actually a bit surprising the tumble finishing process didn’t remove the bit of mold separation flash that remained. Something probably got wedged in that space during tumbling, or we wouldn’t see it at all.
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Thank you, Aaron, but let’s be honest. If you’re the student, then Mike is the experienced professor and I’m the guy who says, “If you have any questions, ask Mike.” 
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Thank you my friends for your kind sentiments. I’m just happy to help out where I can, to enjoy the fabulous jewelry, and participate in the terrific topics you guys post. We all benefit from your steadfast dedication to the genre, deep knowledge of the history and crafts, and value your many, many tremendous contributions!
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In my opinion, you’re already engaged in one of the most important aspects of process: research. I’m a huge proponent of reading, research, and discussing subjects with others who are really interested…and a lot more reading. Oh, I almost forgot, more reading, too. 
I’m not sure how vested you are in the subject, or if you already own it, but one of the single greatest reference materials concerning this form of adornment is A Study of Navajo Concha Belts by Donald and Karen Richards. @TAH kicked off this lovely thread with it. It’s by no means a stone tablet, as there is conflicting information, but it serves as a great source and contains countless beautiful photographs.
Because you asked, I’ve got a few pieces of advice that may aid you in your hunt.
- Read as much as you can stand on the subject.
- Look at as many photographs and visit as many museums as you can; find and study the ones that draw you in.
- Decide what you’re most attracted to.
- Make monetary decisions and form a plan.
I’m a big believer in impractable, outrageous goals. Personally, I think setting “limits” is equivalent to giving up or not starting in the first place; and I refuse to do either. But that’s just me; I don’t allow anything to get in my way, ever.
Concerning concho belts, as with many things, the relationship of age and rarity with price is commensurate; the earlier and more rare a belt, the more hefty the price tag. True Phase One belts are the most coveted, easily fetching more than most people pay for a brand new vehicle, early and/or great examples of Phase Two belts aren’t that far off, and Third Phase belts can range anywhere from hundreds to five figures.
There are countless trails one can ride in this search. So I say explore them all, decide what you love, and do whatever it takes to make it happen, period. 
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Thank you for taking the time to share your advice. It’s straightforward guidance, but I can already see how much patience it requires. Fortunately, I already enjoy the learning process so I look forward to the journey. 
“A Study of Navajo Concha Belts” is not available through my library, but available through Amazon. It sounds like it will be well worth having as a reference.
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