Bali and Thai Silver Components

In recent years, silver components from Bali and the Hill Tribes of Thailand have become popular in jewelry. Components consist of handmade beads, pendants, toggles, clasps, charms and chain that are imported from these places. They add rich texture and contrast to jewelry made of stone, glass, and pearl, and excitement to many designs.

Sterling silver consists of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. Fine silver contains 99.9% pure silver. Bali and Thai silver can be in a range of these silver content percentages, but the majority of it, especially the Thai silver, is at the 99.9% level, making it a finer silver than much of the jewelry bought at the counter in American shops.

Bali Silver

Bali is an island among all the other islands that form Indonesia. Certain communities specialize in the art of silversmithing, and pass their art to succeeding generations. The artists often use very simple tools, but with them achieve little works of art! They begin with pure silver that is mined in parts of Indonesia, mixing it with a tiny bit of copper to make it stronger, and a tiny bit of borax, which helps the metals melt when heated with a torch. Once melted, the silver is poured into a mold to create sheets or wire. From these pieces, the silver is cut into different shapes and sizes to form beads. Filagree type designs are created by cutting small holes into the metal, soldering thin wires onto the pieces, and applying granulation, resulting in a surprisingly wide variety of designs. After the beads are formed, they are cleaned with a solution made from tamarind fruit, then dipped into an antiquing solution which fills the grooves with a dark color and creates a contrast between the high and low parts of the bead. In this way, the beautiful pattern of the bead is enhanced.

Thai Hill Tribes Silver

During the last decade, Thai artisans from the Hilltribes of northern Thailand have gained a wonderful reputation for their beautiful, artistic creations in silver. Before that, these poor tribes earned much of their income from opium sales, but with government support, the growth of their new industry in silver artisanry and sales has set these people in a new direction and given them a better way of life.

The Hill Tribes consist of about 20 different tribes, including the Karen, the Hmong, and the Yao. Every member of the family becomes involved in the creation of silver beads, pendants and jewelry. After melting down the silver with torches, and pouring it into molds, very small pieces are shaped by a long process of tapping. The process is very similar to that of the Bali artisans, but the style is uniquely Thai.

Thai silver pieces are amazing works of art, all made by hand, and little or no machinery. Because of this, no two pieces are exactly alike. Beads are hammered and etched, and others are sculpted into shapes, often emulating objects from nature such as ladybugs, butterflies, fish, ocean shells, leaves, and many different types of flowers. Not only do Thai silver creations enhance jewelry, they are frequently the focal point of a piece of jewelry.

Sterling Silver

Whereas Bali and Thai silver are nearly pure silver, sterling silver is required to contain 92.5% ore. It is usually mixed with 7.5% copper, which makes it stronger than pure silver. American-made sterling is of the highest quality. Sterling silver pieces generally are imprinted with "925".

Silver plate is a base metal coated with a thin layer of pure silver. It makes jewelry more affordable, but the silver tends to wear off over time and with wear.

Gold