Before gold shops spread through the cities, silver was the metal of adornment closest to the homes of the Arabian Peninsula. Grandmothers' necklaces, bracelets and anklets were mostly silver, and each piece had its place at weddings, Eids and celebrations.
Why Was Silver the First Metal of Adornment?
- More accessible than gold: its price put it within reach of most families.
- Easy to shape: its softness let silversmiths engrave fine details and make large pieces.
- Value to keep: jewelry was part of what a woman owned and passed on to her daughters.
Traditional Silver Jewelry Forms
Silver jewelry varied across the regions of the Arabian Peninsula. Among its best-known forms:
- Large necklaces: wide pieces covering the chest, decorated with small bells and hanging chains.
- Wide bangles: heavy engraved bracelets, often several worn on one wrist.
- Anklets: rings for the ankle, some with bells that chime with movement.
- Head and forehead ornaments: chains and pieces that adorned the head at weddings.
These pieces were sometimes inlaid with colored stones such as agate, coral and turquoise, bringing together the shine of silver and the color of the stones.
From Heritage to Today's Designs
Silver is making a strong comeback today, but in a different language. Pieces are lighter and better suited to daily wear, and the detail comes from stone setting and shine rather than size. Still, some of the old spirit remains:
- Full sets combining necklace, earrings and bracelet, an extension of the idea of the "complete adornment" at weddings.
- Stacked bracelets worn together, a reminder of grandmothers' bangles.
- Wide stone-set necklaces, a modern version of the large traditional necklaces.
925 Silver: Why Is It the Best Choice Today?
925 sterling silver is stronger than pure silver and handles daily wear, and it is the international standard for modern silver jewelry. That is why we use it at Gioielleria for every silver piece in our collection.
Browse the Gioielleria collection, or visit our store on Tahlia Street in Riyadh.