The History of Silver Jewelry Making

Silver jewelry has been made since ancient times.

The history of silver jewelry spans thousands of years. The metal is valued for its high luster and malleability, ideal for making jewelry. Many people consider silver to be second only to gold in terms of desirability. Silver jewelry continues to be popular because of its attractive pricing, white color and high shine.

Early Silver Jewelry

Silver has been prized since biblical days when it was used as coins for trade. Gold, which was considered by the Egyptians to be the perfect metal, was symbolized by a circle. Silver was represented as a semi-circle, or moon shape. During the Bronze Age, silver began to be mined for jewelry. This was dangerous work, since silver ore also contained lead, and miners often died of lead poisoning within two or three years. The income from a silver mine near ancient Athens was used to fund its navy, which was instrumental in vaulting Athens to become a powerful city-state.

Rating Silver

Silver is a soft metal that can be damaged easily, so it is usually combined with 7.5 percent copper to make it more stable and suitable for use in jewelry. This is the standard sterling silver. Jewelry made of sterling silver is stamped 925 for the 92.5 percent pure silver in the alloy.

Silver Jewelry in North America

The famous Comstock Lode, a 2.5-mile silver deposit in Nevada, was found in 1859 and has produced $400 million in silver and gold ores. Today, Mexico is the largest producer of silver, with the other North American countries, the United States and Canada, high on the list. Native American tribes such as the Navajo are known for their handmade silver jewelry. For 25th anniversaries, silver jewelry is considered the traditional gift.

Mexican Silver

Silver jewelry in Mexico may be sterling silver, or it may be a higher grade of 950, indicating that it is 95 percent pure silver and only 5 percent copper. However, much of the jewelry from Mexico originates in the town of Taxco, and this silver is likely be less expensive and of poorer quality than sterling. Some jewelry from Taxco is not silver at all but silver plate or alpaca, which places a thin layer of silver over another metal to make it appear similar to silver. Buyers should look at the stamp to be sure of the quality and buy only from a reputable dealer.

Working with Silver

In the earliest days, silver was hammered into bracelets and other jewelry. Another method of working silver was to use filigree, a process in which wire is wrapped and twisted to form an intricate design. Filigree was common in the Middle East and Europe. Casting with silver was also used.

References

• Handcrafted Jewelry.net
• Silverjewelryinfo.com: Silver Jewelry History