Recycled turquoise bead and recycled sterling silver earrings

These earrings are made from a large 20+ year old turquoise bead that we cut in half and set in fine silver scalloped bezel wire. The silver is recycled silver stering silver scrap from previous silver jewelry projects. The silver that was recycled was Sterling Sheet originally purchased from Rio Grande.

Originally, the beads were too big for a comfortable bracelet, and too heavy for earrings. Now that they are cut in half and set in silver 11 grams each (2 quarters = 11 grams).

As silver rings and pendants are hand-made, there may be visible solder seams, toolmarks and joins. These irregularaties are characteristics that accompany handcrafted silversmith jewelry. These are physical marks telling of the piece's construction - born of the jeweler's tools and processes.