About
Silver is an ancient metal, with a varied and illustrious past. The elemental symbol is Ag, from the Latin word ‘Argentum’ – meaning white or shining. Discovered sometime around 4000 BCE, silver 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.
Silver pennies weren’t always sterling, though; Henry II of England established this standard because those inclined to dishonesty would trim the edges of the softer pure silver pennies and keep the small pieces for later. Sterling silver, still a beautiful precious metal, was slightly more durable and discouraged this shifty habit.
Sterling is no longer used to make coins, but 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
Adel Chefridi was born in the old city of Tunis, along the Mediterranean coast. He came to New York in 1998, where he founded his studio, his work increasingly drawing from his multicultural background, reconciling past and present, nostalgia and hope. Adel studied Gemology in the most advanced Gem lab and school in the U.S., the Gemological Institute of America, where he graduated as Graduate Gemologist (GG) and Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP). He then went on to intensive study of goldsmithing at Studio Jewelers, Ltd. in Manhattan and graduated as a Bench Jeweler.
Artisan Jewelry
