The artisans of Bali have passed down their silversmithing skills and secrets through generations of creative families for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The Bali artisans construct their beads, pendants and other jewelry components from regionally mined silver and combine it with small amounts of copper to form sterling silver.

Each bead or component is handcrafted from sterling silver sheets through cutting, shaping, soldering, filing and finishing. Bali silver designs are famous for their intricate designs, which the artisans create completely by hand by soldering tiny coiled silver wires, drops, and discs onto handmade hollow beads.

Genuine Bali components have become so popular in Western fashion that there are now many cheaper imitations on the market, most of which are cast (or "molded") instead of fabricated by hand. But the intricacy and artisanship of true Bali designs set them apart from the imitations, and they make a very special addition to any jewelry collection.

Copyright © 2004 by Chris Franchetti. All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reprinted or published without express written permission from the author.