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Silver Earrings

As a precious metal, silver has a long history, spanning back to 4000 BCE. Silver was originally a sacred metal, because of its comparison to gold and symbolically to the semi-circle of the moon. It quickly became coinage and jewelry thereafter.

Silver’s Danger

Silver mining was a dangerous expedition. Silver and lead are part of the same ore. To mine and extract silver, the danger of lead poison was severe. Most free men in the ancient world didn’t mine for silver, but had slaves mine and extract the silver from lead.

History of Earrings

Earrings became popular by 2000 BCE and were found mostly in the Middle East and Asia, but could be found around the world. In ancient times, piercing, though, was not like we know it today. The holes were larger. Earrings first carried status and were a way to identify the wearer. Silver, a malleable metal, would have been one type of early earring, in which patterns could be easily made. Earrings with gems in them were not popular or easily made until around the second century AD. From the Americas to Asia, early silver earrings were heavy and needed large holes.

As Europe became a fashion hotbed, earrings came and went in style. Huge hats, wigs, and other clothing would obscure earrings during the Middle Ages. It was not until more subdued hair styles and larger necklines did earrings become in vogue again. Throughout European history, earrings became more modest, with smaller piercings, yet would hold more gems, such as diamonds.

With the advent of the film making and modeling history in the 20th century, earrings became bigger than ever as an accessory for women of all ages. Wanting to emulate movie stars, girls and women wore (and have been wearing since) the latest earrings. For men, before biblical times and since, earrings were associated with tribes, rogues, and pirates. Today, men’s earrings have a certain stylish acceptability.

Sterling Silver Earrings

The majority of silver jewelry and silver earrings comes in Sterling Silver or Standard Silver. Sterling Silver is about 92.5% silver and the rest copper or other mass metals. Fine Silver (99.9% silver) is too soft to produce objects. Copper gives silver strength, ductility, and beauty. Sterling Silver earrings today are among the most popular and glamorous types of earrings, especially when accompanied by gemstones.