In nature, silver and gold can be found in the form of small nuggets, or as veins or dust. Silver can also be found in the form of several chemical compounds. Copper is one of the most abundant metals in nature. Very early in the history of humankind, copper and precious metals were hammered into useful or decorative shapes, giving birth to the occupation of ‘smith’. The early smith was hated for her or his dirty surroundings and belittled, however, the smith also had a quasi-divine power to create something lovely out of a shapeless metal ore.

In time, nuggets of metal were melted, and cast into a shape, rather than shaped from their ‘native’ form. A copper pendant dating from 9500 BC was discovered by archaeologists in Iraq. As time progressed after that period, alloys were used to enhance the physical properties of a metal, and to alter its original color. Copper, tin, and zinc produce an alloy popularly known as ‘bronze’.

It is believed that the use of metals became common about 12,000 years ago in the areas surrounding the Persian Gulf. 7,000 years later, metals arrived in China. The Chinese excelled at producing extremely high quality bronze; more so than other ancient cultures. The large bronze vessels created during the Shang dynasty (1600 to 1100 BC) are one famous example. During this time period, China exported silk and other products into Arabia and Europe, in exchange for payment with precious metals and gemstones. The ‘Silk Route’ was one of a series of interconnecting trading routes, involving also the industries of lapis lazuli and jade, among other valuable goods.

The Netherlands was one of the most important nations in the field of routing precious metals to Asia by sea. Spain and other countries were active in the export of silver to Asia. In 1597, the exportation of silver to China reached the record of 345 tonnes. Around 1640, during the Ming dynasty, the last sources of silver in China began to dry up.

In modern day, the vast increase in production of various base-metal sources throughout the 20th century led to an increased output of refined precious metal for jewelry and investment.

Amber, one of the earliest-used gem materials, is a warm and silky golden stone that has been worn since prehistory. Amber is the fossilized resin of pine trees that thrived 50 million years ago. Its appearance ranges from transparent to nearly opaque. In its natural state, amber often contains insects and lichens, which have been trapped since the resin was still in a liquid state, millions of years ago. Trapped air also forms inclusions in the stone. The status of natural amber has risen recently in comparison to synthetic varieties, which were popular during the 20^th century.

The most notable source of amber is the Baltic region. Other producers of amber include the Mediterranean near Sicily, Norway, Denmark, Northern Myanmar, Romania, Dominican Republic, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United States, and Canada.

The application of a hot needle can be used to distinguish natural amber from a synthetic imitation. If the stone is authentic, the needle will produce incense-smelling smoke. Plastic look-alikes will melt and the needle will leave a dark mark.