Silver jewellery charms Christchurch

Press, 15 November 1977, Page 17

Silver jewellery charms Christchurch

Silver jewellery in all its myriad forms has always been popular in Christchurch, but perhaps the most wanted item is the silver chain. City jewellers can offer a wide choice — silver chain imported from such places as Italy and Germany, or beautifully-made local chains. Chains can be expensive, over SIOO, but you would wear such a piece of jewellery on its own, looped perhaps two or three times around the neck. Less expensive chains

can be grouped together or just worn singly, perhaps with a small silver pendant. Such a tremendous variety of chain, priced from about $5, easily enables you to express your individuality. Nothing looks better than an elegant silver chain for evening wear, but because silver is a versatile metal the same chain looks great with casual clothes. Silver bracelets also retain their popularity. They can be solid, or comprised of intricate links. The gradual addition of silver charms to a link bracelet builds up a delightful piece of jewellery that tells its own special story.

You can purchase silver bracelets from about 815 and charms from about $6. You might give a charm for an anniversary, birthday, or at Christmas. If you travel extensively a charm purchased in each place will provide a permanent souvenir of your journey. Your jeweller should solder the links holding the charms to the bracelet — otherwise they are easily lost. Rings were first made popular by the Romans who often wore them on every finger. Most rings are round, but this is not necessarily the best shape. When making your choice, you should take into

account the purpose you have in mind.

A ring worn every day should be designed to be comfortable and the decoration should be such that wear will not destroy its appeal.

Alternatively a ring for special occasions can be delicate, or very large, adventurous and original. The choice of silver rings available from Christchurch jewellers fulfills all these requirements from a simple silver band to an elegant ring set with a semi-precious stone. Cost, from about 812. Silver pendants are available in endless variety. A simple little silver

charm or cross hung from an inexpensive silver chain might be all that is needed.

A solid silver pendant with matching chain is slightly more expensive, and, moving up the scale again, a silver pendant set with a semi-precious stone can be very valuable. Its cost will depend upon the quality of the stone, its rarity and the individuality of the piece. Silver is one .of the precious metals. It has last;, ing value. Great care has been taken in the designing and making of your piece of silver jewellery — care merited by the preciousness of the metal

and often not exercised with jewellery made of base metals.

If your silver jewellery is unfortunately damaged, vour jeweller will usually be able to restore it to new condition. Scratches can be polished out (this is not possible with plated articles) and dents and breakages repaired with heat and silver solder (the lower grade metals often used in costume jewellery cannot have heat applied to them). Silver jewellery is easily cleaned. An occasional light wipe with a silver cloth (stocked by most jewellers) is all that is required.