Silver and gold are the two constant companions and lifelong partners in precious metals. They are both mined from the earth and then processed and made into jewelry. Silver and gold are soft, malleable, shiny metals. Silver is not as soft as gold. Gold is more expensive than silver. Goldsmiths are also called silversmiths because, in order to make the perfect gold bracelet for instance, they work on perfecting their skills on a silver bracelet beforehand. They are both easy enough to craft that they do not need a red-hot fire to shape, but only simple smithing tools. They can both be melted and cast into any shape.

Gold and silver are staples in a jewelry box. A silver bracelet can acquire a certain finish by polishing it to a high sheen, by burnishing, and by hammering; so can gold. There are diamond studded gold bracelets, and there is a diamond studded silver bracelet. These two precious metals can handle gem studded designs quite nicely. In the history of design, there has been an incorporation of pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, onyx, and other precious and semi precious gemstones with silver and gold. There is the silver bracelet, the gold earrings, silver in gold bracelets, gold in silver designs, you name it, and it has been designed and executed.

The popularity of these two precious metals has been on a constant rise. From the first history of bracelets and other jewelry as ritual items, on to its uses as fine jewelry in high fashion and understated elegance, it has been, as always, silver and gold together. There are other precious metals in the group; there is the titanium, most well known for rings rather than bracelets. There is the platinum; denser, heavier, and more expensive than either silver or gold. Still, these two do not have a history as closely entwined; in history, in usage, in characteristics, in common advantages.

Aside from the well known gold and silver bracelet and other jewelry, these two precious metals are abundant enough that they have been mined by ancient civilizations and made into currency. Both can be good investments in the financial markets, both are known as physical assets, and that is why silver and gold items are still being bought and sold despite hard financial times. Both are solid investments. There are coins of silver, and coins of gold. There are silver bullion bars and gold bullion bars. Silver and gold and bronze are the three major prices in any official competition that gives out medals.

Even in health and medical applications, both metals are purported to have benefits. In dentistry as tooth filling material, as electrical wiring, and in a myriad of other uses unrelated to ornamentation. Going back to the subject of ornamentation and health, there are fashionable medical ID’s in the form of a gold bracelet or a silver bracelet. This kind of functional jewelry is beautiful ornamentation that is engraved with important medical information. People with special conditions can thus feel fashionable while wearing these ID’s.

Adornment of the self has always been important to people. The popularity of jewelry and other body ornaments attest to the fact. In photos of our ancestors, there has always been present a form of ornamentation. Sometimes these are in the form of tattoos, ancient make up, body paint, piercing, and the use of jewelry. It is said that the first pieces of jewelry served a religious purpose more than an aesthetic one. The said body ornaments were fashioned into symbolic shapes that fit into a people’s set beliefs. Be that as it may, the practice of wearing jewelry has been handed down to us in the present day. Everybody owns and wears a piece of jewelry. Large amounts of money are spent in the procuring of these items. This practice has allowed us to pour our artistry into the crafting of exquisite pieces in a variety of materials.         

The most beautiful piece of fine jewelry invented is the silver bracelet. Silver, like gold, is a precious metal. It is mined from deep within the earth. It is a soft malleable metal when in its pure form. It is only slightly harder than its fellow precious metal, gold. Most of the silver is mixed into an alloy with other metals, and called sterling silver. This accounts for the relative solidity and hardness of jewelry, silverware, and other silver products. It is a very attractive metal, due to its shimmering white color, its lustrous brilliancy, and its ability to be polished to a high shine. Makers of jewelry love this element of the earth because of its ease in shaping and crafting. No forge is needed in the manufacture of a silver bracelet. A quiet place, a space to work, and simple tools such as stakes and hammers are all that one needs in the crafting of this metal.

The artisans responsible for turning flat silver metal into useful objects are called silversmiths. A silver bracelet owes its existence to this group of people, and on designers specializing in fine jewelry as well. The collaborative method of making silver ornaments makes use of the skills of these two highly specialized people. The silver bracelets can be designed as a single piece with one kind of material only, or a range of other precious stones are incorporated. Some of these ornaments have a setting of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, or other semi precious gemstones such as amber, opal, amethyst, quartz, jasper, sapphire, and turquoise.

Aside from the simple method described above, the method of shaping the silver is varied. There is the lost cast method which makes use of a kiln.  There is the forging method which creates a single piece. There is the engraving method and the use of hand tooling. Then there is the type of finish. There are 4 major types:

• The high polish
• The satin or matte finish
• The brushed or textured
• And the hammered

Sterling silver is usually flashed or plated with pure silver, rhodium, or gold. The finished product is then sold in fine high end jewelry stores.

Bracelets have been popular used since antiquity. These are worn on a person’s arm, in the vicinity of the wrist. Jewelry that is otherwise worn on the upper arm is called an armlet. The earliest bracelets were most notably found in the countries in and around ancient Egypt, Latin America, Bulgaria, and India. Nowadays, we can see different types of people from all over the world using bracelets. Some specialty stores even concentrate on these alone, while others carry other items of jewelry as well. The difference is that whereas before these body ornaments had strong spiritual and religious meaning, today’s silver bracelets have more of a stylistic, artistic, and decorative appeal.

There are different kinds of bracelets, some are made from expensive materials and require the expertise of a jewelry designer, while others are made from easily available materials and can be made by an ordinary man-in-the-street. A silver bracelet belongs to the high end category of jewelry. Silver is a precious metal. It ranks up there with gold and platinum and bronze. A silversmith is what we call the craftsman who works with silver. He works by hammering the malleable metal into beautiful shapes and patterns. Aside from a silversmith, jewelry designers play a big role in the crafting of these bracelets. These are the artists that can create wonderful designs out of thin air. A successful collaboration between silversmith and designer can give rise to the most exquisite pieces.

Aside from the silver bracelet, a silversmith can actually work with other precious metals as well. In fact, gold and silver smithing were quite an overlapping activity. There are also fine pieces of jewelry made out of gold, bronze, platinum, and titanium. Sometimes a designer sees fit to incorporate gemstones into the jewelry design. Gems such as opals, rubies, amethyst, amber, and the like are used. A silversmith then imbeds these gems into the metal. Soldering, casting, gluing, and other methods are used to do this. The most popular of these combinations are the diamond and silver bracelet and ring. Silver, however, is also a good stand alone material for jewelry. Its strength lies in its luster and its texture.

Then there are the other types of silver bracelets such as the in line bracelets, the bangles, and the Italian charm bracelets; also the link, beaded, and karma bracelets. Other jewelries or body ornaments include the earrings and rings, the necklaces, the brooches, and the pendants. All these are also made of different kinds of materials, from the highly precious to the semi precious to the beads, stones, bone and shell of the ancient peoples. Cloth has also been found to be used in some types of jewelry. Modern materials have included synthetic leather, plastic beads, and the like. Art jewelry is a relatively new kind, where the ornament is judged for value based on the strength of the design and not on the material used.

The concept of jewelry like silver bracelets has gone through many changes, from sacred object to mere ornamentation; and from functional wealth storage to pure aesthetic appeal.

A silver bracelet is a kind of jewelry worn on the arm. It is a fashion statement for the stylish among us. The bright, shiny, and expensive metal, when shaped into intricate designs and worn as jewelry, exudes elegance and class. But there is more to a silver bracelet than just this. In times past, these items were more than ornaments. The ancient Egyptians believed that bracelets helped in spiritual and religious rituals. So did the Latin Americans, the Hindus in India, and the Bulgarians. The silver or other malleable material is cast, carved, and shaped by the ancient silversmiths into sacred and meaningful symbols. These are then worn during important occasions. Although this is not the case nowadays, some bracelets are still said to have healing properties when worn. This is especially true when silver is the material. The metal is remarkable in its union of two important properties; as a precious metal in purely material terms and at the same time in terms of its beneficial healing powers.

It has long been known that silver has medicinal properties. Perhaps this has something to do with the metal’s high thermal and electrical conductivity; the highest of all the elements, in fact. In the history of modern medicine, before the advent of antibiotics it was a mixture of silver based compounds that were used to prevent certain infections. Although it is not now advisable to be mixed with food, silver is found in some topical gels, bandages, and in clothing. This is done in order to make use of its inherent antifungal and antibacterial properties. The safest way to utilize the healing power of this precious metal is through the use of a silver bracelet. This method is not only safe and effective, but it is very stylish as well. What other medicinal object out there can claim to heal a range of conditions, and in a most aesthetically pleasing manner at that? Only this thing called a silver bracelet. In concurrence with this thought, there exists a bracelet worn as medical identification. A logo or an inscription is engraved on the bracelet’s face. Although this kind of ID bracelet is worn not for its medicinal properties, it still has the important purpose of carrying information on a wearer’s condition and medical history. These are usually crafted with stainless steel, gold, or sterling silver. Thus the connection between health and the silver bracelet is further strengthened.

Aesthetically, the highly malleable and ductile metal is very good for shaping, carving, hammering, casting, and general silversmithing. The raw metal is then transformed into a work of wearable art of high value. Aside from the silver bracelet there are other items popularly made out of silver. The most well known are what is called silverware; tableware and utensils such as plates, spoons, forks, and knives. Then there are the coins and monetary currencies. Silver jewelry is not confined to the bracelet. There are also pieces of silver necklaces, rings, earrings, anklets, arm bands, and the like.