All that glitters isn’t gold

In many cases silver is considered a secondary metal, next to the lustrous indestructibility of platinum and the malleable glory of gold. However, even in ancient times, silver had been long treasured by the first civilizations. It had been adorned with crystals and semi-precious stones. Fast forward a thousand years later and the ardor for silver has not faded.

It’s still synonymous to the regal life, thus the phrase born with a silver spoon. Yet, it also has undeniable street cred, from heavy metal chains to delicate belly rings found on too-cool-for-school misfits. Silver can go uptown to downtown with little or no burden at all. And way beyond these two sartorial extremes, silver is also the official color of the cosmic set! Just check out the shifts of Courreges and Paco Rabanne in the ‘60s and the new Balenciaga shoe this season that I can’t seem to bag even in the darkest crevices of the Internet shopping world.

I remember when Silverworks was just a tiny kiosk selling quirky pieces of silver jewelry. The star products of that time were the charms that you looped on leather string. In high school, it became a way of organizing a clique or solidifying a puppy love affair. Since then, Silverworks has grown into a cult brand of sorts. It now offers a repertoire that entices both the elegant and those in the underground.

The unique thing about silver is that it’s an egalitarian element that allows you to dress yourself up without looking too pretentious. Or it’s something that goes easily with your everyday uniform. Its charm even increases with wear – when the metal sometimes oxidizes adding depth and personality to the object. Whether it’s worn as shiny as mercury or aged like an heirloom piece, silver is a metal for everyone. It’s luxurious without being snooty – just what we want these days, indeed.

Cindy Kurleto is the current muse of Silverworks. Here, she dishes on the silver lining of doing silver.

What makes silver more precious than gold to you?

Silver crosses trends. It’s much more unisex than any other material and is easy to match.

Your best silver medal moment?

I was a runner up in FHM’s "World's Sexiest Women."

How would you wear silver on a casual day?

It doesn’t look too heavy, so you can easily wear it with casual attire. You can use a lot of small trinkets or a few chunky bits. Silver is also really easy to combine with other materials.

How can you dress it up for a more formal night?

For a feminine look, I would go for the classic ensemble of earrings, bracelet and/or necklace. If you’re going for a more businesslike look, I’d go for modern silver jewelry with an edgy cut.

What makes Silverworks’ trinkets special?

The sheer variety! You’ll find something for everyone and for any occasion. There is always something new to find.

Dream item in silver?

A silver Apple laptop like the Powerbook!

Worst thing to make in silver?

Wow, that’s hard! Silver goes with almost anything but then again I really can’t imagine police uniforms in silver.

Most special piece in silver?

My mother Mary necklace given to me by my best friend on my last birthday.

Quirkiest silver jewelry?

My favorite Silverworks bracelet. It has one of those miniature Chinese balls with bells. I love the sound it makes.

Oddest thing you have in silver?

I’ve got all kinds of things in silver: phone, TV, accessories, clothes and even shoes. But there is nothing odd about that. On the contrary, it’s really rather fashionable. But there is one thing I have you can call odd: silver bed sheets.

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Silverworks is located at leading malls nationwide.