There’s a reason sterling silver has always been at the heart of NAJO.
It has a brightness that feels clean and effortless, but never cold. It catches the light beautifully, moves easily from day to evening, and has enough strength to be shaped into the sculptural forms we love. It is precious, but not untouchable. The best kind of jewellery, really: beautiful enough to feel special, easy enough to wear often.
Since 1986, we’ve worked with sterling silver as our signature material. It is woven through our story, from our early connection with Mexico and its rich silversmithing traditions to the contemporary pieces designed in our Australian studio today.
Why We Choose Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is made from 92.5% pure silver, blended with 7.5% other metals, usually copper, to give it strength. Pure silver is naturally soft, which makes it difficult to wear every day. Sterling silver keeps silver’s luminous white shine, while giving jewellers the durability needed to form rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and bangles that hold their shape beautifully.
That 925 standard matters to us. Every NAJO sterling silver piece carries the 925 hallmark, a small mark that speaks to the quality and purity of the metal.
But beyond the technical side, sterling silver simply has soul. It can be polished to a high shine, softened into fluid lines, oxidised to bring out detail, or worked into bold sculptural shapes. It gives our designers and artisans room to create pieces that feel modern, expressive and enduring.
Thoughtful Materials, Thoughtful Making
Jewellery begins long before a piece reaches your jewellery box. It begins with the material, the maker and the intention behind the design.
Most NAJO jewellery is crafted using recycled sterling silver sourced from Umicore, a company dedicated to circular materials technology and sustainable value creation. For us, this supports our belief in slow jewellery: pieces made with care, designed to last, and created with respect for the precious materials gifted to us by nature.
We work with skilled artisans, silversmiths, stonecutters and jewellers around the world, including makers in Taxco, Mexico, where part of the NAJO story began. Over many years, these relationships have helped us preserve the craftsmanship and hand-finished detail that make sterling silver jewellery feel so alive.
Designed in Australia, Made to Be Worn
Each NAJO piece begins with a design idea. Often, that idea is drawn from nature: the curve of a shoreline, the movement of water, the strength of stone, the softness of botanical forms. Our jewellery is sculptural, but never stiff. It is made to move with you.
A hoop needs to feel balanced. A ring should sit comfortably on the hand. A necklace should fall in just the right place. A bracelet should have presence without feeling heavy. These details may be small, but they are what turn a beautiful object into a piece you reach for again and again.
That is where craft matters. The shaping, polishing, plating, stone-setting and finishing all influence how a piece feels when worn. We want our sterling silver jewellery to look beautiful up close, but also feel natural in real life: with a white shirt, a black dress, a linen blazer, a favourite knit, or bare skin in summer.
Jewellery With a Story
We have always believed jewellery should express something personal. It might mark a milestone, become part of your everyday ritual, or simply make you feel more like yourself.
Sterling silver lends itself to that kind of storytelling. It is strong, luminous and quietly powerful. It can be understated or bold, minimal or expressive. It can sit alone as a signature piece or be layered with other silver and gold jewellery to create something entirely your own.
That versatility is one of the reasons we return to it, collection after collection.
Caring for Sterling Silver
Sterling silver naturally responds to the world around it. Air, humidity, salt, perfume, lotions and everyday wear can all affect its shine over time. This is normal, and with a little care, your pieces can stay beautiful for years.
Wear your sterling silver often, but avoid swimming, showering or cleaning in it. Store each piece somewhere dry, ideally in a pouch or soft-lined jewellery box. To restore shine, gently polish with a soft silver polishing cloth.
A little care keeps the glow alive.
Discover Sterling Silver Jewellery
From refined everyday earrings to sculptural rings, meaningful necklaces and collectable bangles, sterling silver is the foundation of NAJO’s design story.
Explore our sterling silver jewellery collection and find the pieces that feel like they were made for you.
