An Intriguing Tale: A Deep Dive into the History of Silver

Silver is a precious metal in every sense of the word. It has captivated the imaginations of civilizations throughout history, forming part of traditions and rituals while interweaving its prepossessing sheen with many myths and folklore. A testament to Silver’s inherent beauty is that people wanted to adorn themselves with its lustrous appeal from day one and – of course – still to this day.

We’re going to get to the bottom of Silver with a particular focus on silver jewelry, tracing through its properties and history. Without further ado …

What is Silver Exactly?
The Definition of Silver According to Merriam-webster: A soft white metallic element that takes a high polish and is a better conductor of heat and electricity than any other substance.

In our own words: Silver is nearly white, lustrous, soft, reflective, very ductile, and malleable metal that is not only an excellent conductor of heat and electricity but also makes fantastic necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. In other words, Silver is as functional as it is stylish. 

 If we’re to dive a little deeper, we can get right to the root of Silver by using its name as a prism. A word of Germanic and Middle English origin, Silver is thought to have been based on the color of the river – very evocative.

A Quick Rundown of Silver:

• Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals making it ideal for use in electrical contacts and batteries.
• Silver can be polished to a luminous sheen, making it a common material used in mirrors.
• Inexpensive compared to other metals such as gold and platinum.
• Silver has great antibacterial properties for items like cutlery.
• Silver is the most popular metal of choice among mass producers of jewelry. 

The History of Silver

Ancient History 
Silver was one of the few precious metals known to prehistoric humans. While we can’t be entirely certain how they used the metal, many historians have made their guesses. Firstly, unlike copper, Silver is too soft to be used for tools or any other practical purposes. This leaves us to guess that Silver was used ornamentally as jewellery or as money – not difficult to imagine, considering we use it for much the same purposes today. 

Making Records 
So, while 5,000 years ago was when Silver first went down in history, it gained official status sometime around 3,000 BCE. In Anatolia, otherwise known as modern-day Turkey, Silver was being mined for the first time, and for good reason. The precious metal was already in high demand and helped early civilizations in the Near East and Ancient Greece to flourish. During this time, Silver was used to craft eating and drinking vessels, as well as in the creation of many ancient sculptures and, of course, in the design of jewelry belonging to the ruling classes.

Going Worldwide 
Fast-forward a few thousand years (800 B.C.E), and Silver was being traded throughout Asia Minor and North Africa. Word had spread of the wonder-metal that was not only ideal for coin-making but also for the production of accessories, ornaments, and jewelry. Around this time, Silver was also gaining a reputation for being the choice of the noble and wealthy.

In fact, in Ancient Egypt, silver jewelry was reserved for kings, queens, pharaohs, and select others. Similarly, Silver was almost exclusively used in jewelry belonging to the wealthiest men and women in the Ancient Greek period, despite the metal being used to produce currency circulated throughout society at the time.

Around this time, Silver was also making waves on the other side of the globe, completely unknown to other civilizations. When the Spanish conquistadores invaded the New World, they discovered vast silver deposits and indigenous cultures that had mined and worked Silver for over 2,000 years. Interestingly, the great Aztec Emperor Montezuma was a huge fan of Silver, regularly wearing collars, bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces, and a helmet made of Silver adorned with exotic feathers.

Introducing Mass Silver Jewelry Production 
Developments in Silver mining and production had stalled for some time, that is, before the opulent Victorians put their exuberant twist on things. It just so happens that Silver is very welcoming to being set with various vibrant gemstones. So, silver jewelry began to feature round rose-cut diamonds and popular gemstones such as amethyst, golden topaz, and garnet. Earrings and necklaces were rarely understated, with their shapes and ornate designs often reminiscent of chandeliers. 

Around this time, fine hand-crafted designs also turned more into manufactured pieces. As the industrial revolution was speeding ahead, a method for cutting and stamping out silver settings was developed, allowing silver jewelry to be made inexpensively and deftly.

In retaliation, The British Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century shunned these generic iterations for Celtic designs and woven, flowing shapes.

As the 20th century arrived, the Art Deco period brought with it extravagant new trends, as jewelry became even more lavish and twice as bold. During this period, Silver fell briefly out of favor, with its popularity outweighed by gold and platinum. 

Note: Over the centuries, there was an unfortunate but nearly universal tendency to melt down old Silver objects to make new coins and decorative pieces. This means many silver jewelry masterpieces have been lost to history.

Silver Today 
Nowadays, Silver has earned itself a reputation for being a creative canvas upon which jewelry makers and brands can play. Malleable, relatively affordable, and easy to work with, Silver is a huge hit in the accessory and jewelry industry. While the value of Silver took a nosedive for some time while remaining at the forefront of the mass-produced jewelry industry, it is once again on the rise, with many designers welcoming the much-loved metal back into their jewelry collections. 

Various brands are bringing Silver back with their range of silver earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets, fomenting a resurgence of silver jewelry as a polished, chic, and red carpet-ready material that always goes down a treat. This trend is expected to continue into the future, ensuring the history of silver doesn’t stop here.