History Sterling Silver

History of Jewelry

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The history of charms and jewelry is as varied as their are writers to write about it. We are compiling a collection of so called histories for your interest. If nothing else it is interesting to read

History Of Sterling Silver Jewelry Charms:
Charms (aka amulets, pendants and talismans) are wildly popular in today's society as they have been for as long as we have recorded history. We know that ancient Egyptians wore bracelets with charms (amulets) to protect against bad luck and evil. While perhaps they began with religious symbolism, they quickly became part of everyday dressing.

Jewelry ornaments (charms) were made of almost any substance of value to the people in their time. Often charms were made of precious metals. Jewelry charms were often made with gemstones inlaid or mounted on precious metal in the form of necklaces, crowns, staffs, and bracelets.

England's Queen Victoria gets credit for popularizing jewelry charms throughout Europe by wearing charms or lockets on her royal bracelets. It is said that America became enchanted with charms around the time frame of WWII. Soldiers returning from their duty stations brought with them various types of charms or pendants.

Todays popular charms are generally made from gold and sterling silver, although other metals are still used.

Sterling silver jewelry charms have come to represent to the wearer as many different things as their are personalities and interests. Some might wear a sterling silver necklace charm to symbolize their religious feelings. Some might wear a silver charm on a bracelet to symbolize their special interests such as their favorite pets, hobbies, family and feelings.

Some might use sterling silver jewelry charms to commemorate special life events such as a birth, death, baptism, wedding, graduation, advancement, anniversaries and the list can go on and on. Many jewelry charms take on sentimental feelings when given or acquired during these life events. What adds more to the sentimentality is passing on a sterling silver charm from generation to another or as giving them as gifts during these special times.

History of Sterling Silver Jewelry Charms Part 2
The qualities of brightness, color and perhaps the extreme softness of silver were recognized in antiquity and used for the creation of silver jewelry charms often related to religious worship. These practices date back to the ancient Egyptians. Due to the scarcity of Silver is was often called "white gold". Because of the color qualities of Silver it has been referred to as the "lunar metal" because the color qualities of silver are much like the cold and luminous color in the moon's reflection on water. Because of it's rich qualities it has been used to make ornamental objects (charms) that would decorate the home as well as the person, hence the coming forth of silver charm jewelry.

Silver continues to be a symbol of comfortable living. For centuries craftsmen have been working with silver, as a result of all these thousands of years experience silver craftsmen have come to find that Sterling Silver is far more durable than pure silver. Like pure gold, silver is soft and therefore harder to work with when making ornate charms and pendants.

Sterling Silver is comprised of 92.5% pure silver and the remaining 7.5% typically comes from Copper, Zinc or Nickel but not always. When sterling silver jewelry charms are stamped .925 that means that 92.5% is pure silver. Sterling Silver charms have retained their position of prominence when making and wearing jewelry. The name "Sterling Silver" comes from the Easterling area of Germany where the original silver craftsmen developed the sterling silver alloy.

According to ancient mystic lore, silver can ward off werewolves and other demons, and some claim it enhances psychic powers. Today, most of the world's mined silver comes from Mexico, the US, Peru, Canada and Australia. Nearly a fifth of the world's silver output comes from Mexico.

Top Ten Reasons For Sterling Silver Charms
1. Symbolic - Jewelry charms symbolize your interests, beliefs and desires.
2. Inspirational - Jewelry charms inspire us to believe and achieve.
3. Uniquely Accessorize - Jewelry charms customize your chains, bracelets and anklets making your outfit as unique and exciting as you are
4. Motivational - Whether you want motivation for religious reasons or to achieve certain ideas, jewelry charms can help.
5. Fashion Statement - Sterling silver jewelry charms can go with anything, any time, any where.
6. Specifically Unique - Due to the vast shapes, styles and designs, jewelry charms can be as unique as your are.
7. Celebration - Celebrate your interests with a representation of your interest in sterling silver.
8. Gift Giving: Giving jewelry charms is the most unique way to connect with another.
9. Awards: Silver jewelry charms can represent achievement in various areas.
10. Love and Romance: Nothing expresses love and romance like jewelry charms made from sterling silver.
(Copyrighted 2002-2003)

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04/03/2004 Your Silver Jewelry Charms Source.