Rich cultural traditions and a tradition for displaying personal wealth as fine personal adornments have supported a flourishing silver-smithing industry in Indonesia for centuries. While the intricate soldered granulations and twisted wiring of Balinese earrings and bracelets and have attained global recognition, Balinese silver is only one Indonesian silver-working tradition.

In neighboring East Java, for example silver smiths draw on their own traditions to create striking original designs. East Java is also a rapidly industrializing region, with infrastructure and a human resources able to support a flourishing silver casting industry, with factories able to fashion thousands of identical pieces on short notice