Hill Tribe Silver Production

Traditionally silver jewellery has been used as a store of wealth and as a means of adornment and beautification for the Hill Tribes. Silver jewellery proudly worn adds to their financial security, signifies wealth, status and spirituality within the tribe.

The Hill Tribe people still use silver in place of paper money, preferring something they consider retains its true value. Each detailed component is painstakingly created by hand from 99.9% silver ingots. The ingots are flattened into sheets by hammers, which is then cut, shaped, moulded, soldered and stamped into the finished item.

Each piece is totally unique due to the handcrafted nature. No two beads, pendant or ring is exactly the same, just shinning out with stunningly beautiful handmade characteristics.

The silver, being soft and can be worked with surprising speed due to the skills of craftsmanship and the purity of the silver. Sterling silver in comparison, is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, which gives it a harder finish, only enabled to work by machine rather than hand tools. The purity of the Hill Tribe silver means it will tarnish less quickly than sterling and will need less regular polishing to retain its appeal.

The Hill Tribes draw their inspiration for the designs of the jewellery from nature. The engraving and stamped details relate to the direct connection the Hill Tribes have to their land and water, be it plant, animal or geometric design.

Hallmarking

All Luna Tree Jewellery items weighing over 7.78g's are Hallmarked in accordance with Trading Standards and the Hallmarking act of 1973. The hallmarked items bear three stamps; LTJ, for Luna Tree Jewellery, 999, which relates to the 99.9% purity of the silver and an anchor symbol, which is the mark of the Birmingham Assay office which carries out all sample purity testing & Hallmarking for Luna Tree Jewellery.

Hallmarking has taken place in Birmingham since 1773 and hallmarks all types of precious metals. Any items of a mixed metal content, such as an earring which has a sterling silver hook, will be hallmarked with the lowest silver purity. For sterling silver this is 925.

Any stockist wishing to have items less than 7.78g hallmarked should contact Luna Tree Jewellery to discuss the additional costs this will incur.