| Pewter jewelry has gained in popularity as the price of | | | | These are all good reasons. I would add to that the |
| silver jewelry has gone up. They do have a slightly | | | | fact that pewter can be every bit as detailed as the |
| similar look at first glance. | | | | finest silver jewelry, and when properly cast and |
| Pewter is mostly tin, a soft metal. It is alloyed in jewelry | | | | finished, is almost indistinguishable from it. That is, unless |
| making and other uses with antimony or bismuth, hard | | | | you take a really good look. But if you're just going for |
| and brittle metals. Earlier pewter making used lead as | | | | the general silvery look, and you aren't a jewelry snob, |
| one of the alloys, but thankfully this practice is | | | | why not own and wear some pewter jewelry too? |
| becoming rare, at least in the USA. | | | | Some people may have a difficult time getting over |
| In earlier times pewter utensils were what people ate | | | | the upset recently broadcast via newspaper and |
| with. Plates and mugs in the Middle Ages all the way | | | | internet over the pewter containing a high lead content |
| up to the 18th and 19th centuries were primarily pewter, | | | | that was shipped to us by suppliers in China. I agree |
| before porcelain came into its own. I imagine this early | | | | that is something to pay attention to when purchasing |
| pewter was full of lead- but I haven't heard much | | | | pewter jewelry. You must make sure the pewter |
| about difficulties due to that. | | | | comes from a reputable source and was cast lead |
| Was pewter jewelry made in earlier times? I believe it | | | | free. Such jewelry is available, and I would venture to |
| was, but due to the softness of the metal, and the | | | | guess that most jewelers dealing with pewter jewelry |
| ease with which it could be melted and put to other | | | | are very careful about the lead content these days. |
| uses, not as much of it has survived. It's possible the | | | | Children especially are vulnerable, since they tend to |
| Celtic people made their famous knot designs in | | | | stick things in their mouths without thinking. |
| pewter. | | | | But despite the fact that pewter jewelry has a |
| But what about modern Pewter jewelry, and what | | | | questionable reputation in some circles, it seems to |
| would be its advantages over silver? Well, here are a | | | | have mostly bounced back in popularity. I'm glad, |
| few:o It is less costly than sterling silvero It has less | | | | because not every one can afford sterling silver |
| likelihood of tarnishing (especially the pewter which is | | | | jewelry, and this can be a wonderful substitute for |
| cast lead free)o It has a warm, hand crafted look | | | | many of us. |