About

The precious metal silver comes from the element Argentum, the Latin word meaning bright or shining. Discovered sometime around 4000 BCE, silver ore was first mined in order to make ornamental objects.

In the 11th and 12th century, in what we now call the British Isles, silver pennies were printed with a small star. A penny like this was called a steorling (most likely pronounced like “sterling”) in Old English, meaning “coin with star.” These steorlings were made up of 92.5% pure silver, with an alloy of 7.5% copper, just like sterling silver today. It was discovered that the alloy was just as beautiful as pure silver, but stronger by leaps and bounds.

Many recognized the advantage of a precious metal that was both beautiful and durable: two traits that are ideal in a favorite piece of jewelry.

Artist

Originally from San Francisco, Rebecca McNerney has been living in Phoenix, Arizona, for the past twenty-five years, where she designs and creates jewelry out of her home studio. Rebecca aspired to be a fashion designer as a kid, but her interest in jewelry design didn't begin until her golden retriever, Riley, broke piece of jewelry she had inherited from her grandmother. Rebecca decided to learn how to fix the piece herself, which in turn inspired her to go to night school for metalsmithing.

Rebecca enjoys silence and the sounds of the neighborhood while she's working. Her work has a similar peaceful, familiar feel to it. "All of my designs are very simple, and focus on the intrinsic beauty of the materials," Rebecca says. An interest in fiber arts and textiles has been a strong influence in her design work.

During the rest of her life, Rebecca is an avid reader, devouring two to three books per week in between her other interests which include hiking, walking, and watching films. Along with her husband Michael, Rebecca shares her home with Max the rescue dog, two desert tortoises and a box turtle. Her sons are away at college.

Details

• crafted with recycled sterling silver
• 1"x.3" silver rectangle links
• sterling silver ear wires
• 1.5" total length
• TLC for your sterling silver jewelry