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Sterling Silver Rings
The term "Easterling Silver" is believed to have been used
to refer to the grade
of silver that had originally been used as the local currency in an area of Germany, known as "The Easterling". This "Easterling"
area consisted of five towns in northern Germany that
banded together in the 12th century under the name
Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic League
proceeded to engage in considerable commerce with England. In payment for
English cattle and grain, the League
used their local currency. This currency was in the form of 92.5% silver coins.
England soon learned that these coins, which they referred to as "the coins of
the Easterlings", were of a reliably high quality and hardness. King Henry
II set about to adopt the alloy as the
standard for English currency. He recruited metal refiners from The Easterling
and put them to work making silver coins for England. The silver these refiners
produced came into usage as currency by 1158 in the form of what are now known
as Tealby Pennies, and
was eventually adopted as a standard alloy throughout England. The original name
"Easterling Silver" later became known as simply "sterling silver".
Pure silver, also called fine silver,
is relatively soft, very malleable, and
easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more
durable product. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which
consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Although any metal can make up the 7.5 percent non-silver portion
of
sterling, centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be its best
companion, improving the metal's hardness and durability without affecting its
beautiful color. The small amount of copper added to sterling has very little effect on the
metal's value. Instead, the price of the silver item is affected by the labor
involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy of
the design.
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This is an old Celtic design I found in a book of ancient jewelry. I usually have a large stock of these rings in many
sizes from 3 to 11. Please contact me with the link at the bottom of the page if you want a size that I don't have listed.
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Stylized, spiralized question mark, because I really don't know what I'm doing in life! Size 5˝
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Very cool Celtic double spiral mounted on a thin, petite size 5 ring.
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Another Celtic double spiral, but this time I added a couple of silver balls as accents. Makes a great pinky ring! Size
4˝
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Very simple twisted wire ring. The smaller sizes are great for toe rings or for your pinky. They also make great inexpensive
gifts for little girls who simply love them! I usually have a large stock of these rings in many sizes. Please contact me
with the link at the bottom of the page if you want a size that I don't have listed.
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Simple but elegant half-round sterling silver band. The larger sizes make great thumb rings and also look good on men!
I usually have a large stock of these rings in many sizes from 3
to 11. Please contact me with the link at the bottom of the page if you want a size that I don't have listed.
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Petite sterling silver spiral. Makes a great pinky or toe ring! Size 4˝
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Plain hammered sterling silver 5 mm wide band. This is one of my best selling items and I often have lots of them lying
around the shop so if you need a size I haven't posted, just drop me a line. Chances are I have the size you need all ready
to send out! By the way, the larger sizes of this style make great thumb rings!
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$10.00
Size 7
Size
8
Size
10
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Very cool band that I created from five separate sterling silver wires that I put together and formed into a size 11˝
ring. Because of what I created it from, I couldn't get a perfect seam, so there is one visible in the back of the ring.
Great for a thumb ring or as a men's ring!
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Dainty, thin sterling silver stylized band in size 7.
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