Fred Harvey Jewelry Hemispheres

SUMMER BLOWOUT: the Hemisphere bracelet of Fred Harvey railroad jewelry.

The making of silver hemispheres is challenging, especially before the wide availability of steel blocks of modern times. Early silversmiths used depressions in wood stumps, which was difficult and imprecise.

But manufacturers of Fred Harvey jewelry machinery solved that problem, creating cutters and presses to easily add this gleaming component to their jewelry. Manufacturers were spitting out a stream of perfectly formed silver half-balls as a main decor feature.

Not only was the hemisphere a new and novel feature, it replaced more costly turquoise cabochon.  My book has some discussion on the hemisphere, pp.141 and pp.150. This bracelet measures 4.75″ shank, for the small wrist or for the COLLECTOR.

COLLECTOR ALERT!