The word “silver” originated from the meaning of the Anglo-Saxon “Seolfor” or “siolfur” and the Latin meaning for “argentums”. It is represented on the Periodic Table of the Elements by the symbol “Ag”, with the Atomic Number of 47, and an Atomic Weight of 107.8682. The discovery of Pure Silver dates back to prehistoric times. As early as 3000 B.C., there is evidence that Man learned to separate silver from lead.
When silver is in its purest form, or as it is called Pure silver, it has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals. It also possesses the lowest contact resistance of all metals. The metal Silver is stable in pure air and water; however, it does tarnish upon exposure to ozone, hydrogen sulfide, or air that contains sulfur.
Although jewelry styles may differ among Native American Indian tribes, their differences are not as significant as with other arts and crafts. Jewelry, such as Silver Hoop Earrings, and the materials used for making it, which include beads, shells, Copper, Silver, Turquoise, Lapis, Magnesite, Amethyst, Coral, and other stones, was used as major trade items long before the Europeans arrived in America.
Following colonization, Native American jewelry making traditions remained strong, and rather than being replaced by new techniques and materials, the Native American tribes, such as the Zuni, Navajo, and Hopi Indians, incorporated them. Before Europeans came to America, Native American metalwork was fairly simple. Primarily, it consisted of hammering and etching copper into pendants or earrings and fashioning copper and silver into beads. After Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo artists learned the techniques of silversmithing from the Spanish in the 1800's, metal jewelry arts, such as the Silver Hoop Earrings blossomed in the Southwest.
Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings whether handcrafted by Native Americans or not have always been in style; however, when thinking about silver hoop earrings it brings to mind an image of plain round silver hoop earrings. Today, there is definitely a wide array of alternative silver hoop earrings. The Silver Hoop Earrings Collection features hoop earrings that have designs including twisted Sterling Silver, inlaid gemstones such as Turquoise, Coral, Opal, Lapis, and other stones, and set in Sterling Silver.
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