Hill Tribe Silver

When it comes to silver beads, Thai Hill Tribe silver is the most addictive. This beautiful work is handcrafted by people of several tribes in Northern Thailand, who have a long cultural tradition of working with silver. In modern times they have been encouraged to develop their silver craft as a source of income. The quality of the silver is very high -95%-99% pure silver as compared to sterling, which is 92.5%. Hill Tribe silver is softer and easier to shape, so it is available in an incredible variety of designs. It can be etched, printed, hammered, scratched or folded like origami. Many beads and pendants are inspired by flora and fauna, but others are more abstract and some reflect tribal traditions. I find that by adding just a few elements of Hill Tribe silver to the natural gemstones in my designs, I can create very distinctive jewelry.  It is such a pleasure to work with!