The sudden resurgence of silver in eye-catching forms hasn’t gone unnoticed, says Arshiya Kapadia, while maintaining that the biggest quality of this dazzling metal is that it doesn’t draw attention to itself, but adds to the look. It blends with the personality of the person who is wearing it and doesn’t stand out. And more and more people are discovering this fact.

SILVER is one of the most understated metals in the history of mankind. This metal, which has been in existence for centuries and centuries, was found in Roman tombs in 4000 BC and was used by Egyptians to make coins and utensils. It was even excavated from the ruins of Harappa and Mohenjadaro. Silver ornaments are not only worn by most tribals but also by the nouveau rich of society.

However, the sudden resurgence of this dazzling metal in eye-catching forms hasn’t gone unnoticed. So is silver the new funky metal? Do we attribute the resurgence of this shining white metal to the West? America’s latest singing sensation Shakira wears a barbed-wire silver choker in the video from her debut album ‘Laundry Service’ and Jennifer Lopez looks cool with her dangling hoop-earrings in silver. The biggest quality of silver is that it doesn’t draw attention to itself, but adds to the look — it blends with the personality of the person who is wearing it and doesn’t stand out. And more and more people are discovering this fact.

"I think it’s just the fact the people are bored with gold and are experimenting with other metals — one of them being silver," remarks actress-cum-model Gauri Pradhan (of the TV serial Kutumb fame). Admittedly a ‘silver freak,’ Gauri says she likes collecting unusual silver ornaments. "What I like best about silver is that it can can be combined with western as well as Indian outfits, it looks traditional and modern," she adds.

Niharika Khan, a ‘silversmith’ in Mumbai who took up designing a couple of years ago, likes to make bold designs. When she was working at a beach shop in Seattle, she started designing wired jewellery for fun and later opted to get trained as a silver smith. She started her own line once she was back in Mumbai! So what attracts her to silver? "The fact that it’s a tougher metal to manipulate. I also like the look of it and that it can be oxidised. Silver can be given so many looks — it can look smooth, or hammered or simply unfinished," says Niharika. Niharika likes experimenting with unusual designs. Her range of jewellery has it all — bangles, chokers, earrings, pendants and rings. She likes using semi-precious stones, sourced from all over India, in her ornaments. Her clientele includes women in their forties and above. Says Niharika, "I think fusion is becoming a way of life and it’s being reflected in silver jewellery as well. Silver is a very versatile metal — there are so many things that you can do with it. It can be given many forms — it can look delicate as well as chunky. " (INFS)