Queen Of Gems

Although gold has long been considered the setting for precious and semi-precious gemstones in jewelry, silver and platinum have also been very popular.

In particular, silver superseded gold for the setting for gemstones during the 18th and 19th centuries, because experts felt that silver set off the stones better than the overpowering colors of gold.

Most of the silver used iin jewelry prior to the 1900s was imported from Mexico, Peru, Chile and Bolivia. In the late 1800s, the Comstock Lode of silver was found in west Nevada in the USA, and jewelry production was able to increase dramatically.

Platinum was first discovered in South America. Although it was found to be a strong metal, and never tarnished, it took a while before it became used in jewelry.

Its first use as a setting for diamonds is recorded to have occurred in 1870, and it became very fashionable in the 1920 and 1930s.