(C) Luke Zion Jewelry

As you know, in the medals divided into gold, silver, and bronze, the silver medal comes in second. Silver is not dazzling; it is subtle and gentle. It is clean and neat. Silver spoons, eunjangdo (silver-ornamented small knife), and the Milky Way come to mind. Silver spoons were used because they had the function of detecting poisoned food. If silver touches a poison like a sulfur compound, its surface turns black. That's why silver spoons were used on the King’s surasang (royal dining table). Silver also has excellent antibacterial properties, preventing the proliferation of bacteria and viruses on its own.

Although a gold spoon is mentioned as a symbol of wealth, it was originally a silver spoon. Hence, the English expression, “was born with a silver spoon in their mouth.” Eunjangdo (銀粧刀) is a small knife where parts or all of the sheath or handle are decorated with silver. Since it was mainly worn at the waist like a norigae (traditional Korean pendant) or attached to the coat-tie, it became an ornament in itself. Since the poor could not own one, it was a symbol of wealth and status. The eunjangdo was also carried as a self-defense weapon and a means to protect chastity and purity.

There is a sijo (Korean classical poem) that goes, “Ihwa-e wolbaek-hago Eunhan-i samgyeong-inde...” (In the pear blossoms, the moon is white, and the Silver River is at the third watch...) Eunhan (銀漢), or Silver River, refers to the river of stars flowing in the night sky, which is the Milky Way (Eunhasu, 銀河水). The ‘Han’ in Eunhan is the same ‘Han’ as in the Han River (漢江). Late at night when the pear blossoms are open (and one cannot sleep), you look up at the sky and the Milky Way is twinkling. How can one express the beauty of the pear blossoms reflected in that Milky Way? How can one not long for the person they should be with on such a night? Pear blossoms are simple yet subtly beautiful.

Park City, a high-altitude city in Utah, gets snow from October to April. This mining town, which prospered after the discovery of a silver mine in the late 1860s, has now transformed into a ski resort town. The entire mountain has turned into ski slopes and resort hotels. It lived off the silver mine until 1982 when it was closed due to a lack of profitability, and now only traces are preserved within the ski area. The Sundance Film Festival, which has been held here for over forty years, will also be held in Boulder, Colorado, starting with the 43rd festival in January 2027. Robert Redford, who founded the Sundance Film Festival, could not beat the passing of time either. He passed away peacefully on September 16th at the age of 89. Nevertheless, he left his mark.

Park City preserves its past mining history as an important part of its urban identity. Industrial relics remain scattered throughout the ski slopes, such as old mining buildings like the “Silver King Shaft House,” mine tunnel entrances, and ore-hauling tramway towers. A museum exhibits the history of mining and skiing, and there is also a ski tour program called "Silver to Slopes" where you can view the mining relics while skiing.

Silver, which has antibacterial and sterilizing properties, is used in eundan (silver-containing pellet) to clean the mouth, and in the field, water is filtered with silver nano-filters for drinking. Because of its malleability and ductility (the property of being easily flattened and stretched) second only to gold, it has been widely used in the production of jewelry and crafts, such as rings, necklaces, tableware, musical instruments, and decorative items, and was also used to make money (silver coins). Sterling Silver, used for such processing, is an alloy commonly used in high-quality silver products, made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals (mostly copper). Copper serves to increase the strength and durability of the silver.

In Calistoga of Napa Valley, famous for wine, there is a winery called "Sterling Vineyards." Although you have to take a cable car to ascend, like going up a ski slope, the white Mediterranean-style building on a low hill is at a height you could walk up to. You tour the place, listening to the breathing of the wine sleeping in large oak barrels you cannot escape from. The breathtaking, open view overlooking Napa Valley is the highlight. I bought one glass and was able to have five tastings; I got drunk.

Sterling, which means ‘sturdy silver,’ implies being ‘as brilliant as pure silver, genuine, and valuable.’ Although there were wineries before, the one started in 1964 with the ambition to produce high-quality wine here, like the Châteaux in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, was named ‘Sterling.’ They did a brilliant and valuable thing. They elevated Napa Valley to the world.

When hair becomes gray after going through hardships and gaining wisdom, it is called Silver. These capable Silvers guide the world, and thanks to them, the silver industry prospers. I have no desire to be gold. I want to be born not as the silver that comes with old age, but as the mature silver, the ‘Sterling Silver’ that shines subtly even in the dark.

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