Sterling silver filigree pendants, earrings and rings

If you love wearing clothes made of lace then you might also be drawn to filigree jewellery, with its fine, delicate look!  In fact, the word "filigree" is thought to come from the Latin "filum", which means "thread" or "fibre". To make a piece of filigree jewellery, long, thin metal wires are twisted into complex patterns/shapes and soldered together - sometimes the results are very beautiful and do look similar to lace fabric. The technique of filigree has a history that goes back centuries, and has been practised in countries as diverse as India, Ireland, France and Mexico. And of course you can still buy filigree jewellery today; if you're looking for a modern-day sterling silver filigree pendant, a pair of earrings or a ring, you can find some great examples online, at a very reasonable price. 

I've had a look on Amazon.com and have put my top picks in this hub, in the capsules below and right. Any of the filigree items I've found would make a fab gift, or a treat for yourself - have a look, and see if you agree.

Two gorgeous silver filigree rings that caught my eye on Amazon just happen to have the same design: a butterfly. Or you can go for Gem Avenue's abstract floral filigree ring, which is a great budget choice. And why not set off the butterfly ring with a similar (though not exactly matching) filigree butterfly pendant? I was also very taken with Sabrina Silver's guitar pendant, which measures nearly 1.75 inches tall and would be an excellent gift for a music lover! [cont'd below]

In the capsule above right you'll see a couple of gorgeous silver rings/pendants, both of which are examples of ajouré work. All the rings have quite wide bands so you're recommended to go a size or half a size bigger than you normally take in rings, to ensure the best fit!

© Empress Felicity February 2011