Sterling Silver Turquoise Filigree Cuff Bracelet

This is a cast Balinese cuff. Can you imagine this one with a flowing silk shirt? I can. This is a vintage piece that was restored. I normally don’t restore pieces, but it was old and very scratched. The turquoise in the center is absolutely gorgeous, and has gotten prettier with age.

Restoring pieces is a fine line I walk. I don’t restore pieces when I get them for myself, but old scratched pieces with their years of character is part of what I like about sterling silver. I had to, because I’m not sure how well folks will take to vintage pieces like that without thinking they’re damaged. They aren’t. Sterling silver (92% pure) tarnishes slower than fine silver (99% pure). But silver’s utility is really in its malleability and relatively low melting point. To harden it a little, a little copper (about 8%) is added.

Over decades, because it’s an alloy, it will tarnish black. While the copper in it will tarnish as greenish spots. This isn’t indicative of anything bad, it’s an alloy and my husband is a chemistry major. To quote him “that’s normal, it’s not a new chemical, it’s an alloy -- the original parts are in there like jelly beans in a bowl”. But I want customers to appreciate the pieces as the original artist intended, while preserving the vintage look of the piece. You’re not here for new silver, you’re here for vintage pieces, right? Well I’m careful not to turn vintage pieces into new ones with sonic cleaners and chemicals. That makes classic pieces look boring. So the fine line I walk is that of a curator. I want the piece to be seen for what it is, while not wanting 40 years of cruft to remain on it as if I found it in an archaeological site yesterday.

So, I used some jewelers rouge and a bit of elbow grease to bring out the shine while keeping the age. It’s a fine line, but I disclose that when I do it. The piece looks significantly better, while keeping its aged look. It’s been tested using JSP and turns a deep brown in the solution. It’s sterling. The piece wasn’t heat hardened, so adjusting it is easy. It’s 54 grams of Balinese joy, waiting to become part of your collection.

To care for this piece, you can check out our care guide. You can let the patina develop also, which is fine. I would do that.

54.06g / W 1.6 in. / D 2.6 in.

Sizing Guide: https://nasadotrading.com/post/947511843508