the beauty of the Caribbean seas. Debora and Marco masterfully obtain the sea's blue-green magnificence with dichroic glass techniques. The set includes a stainless steel choker and a pair of earrings. .925 rating silver clasp. Artisan Info: "Hello, we are Debora and Marco and we met while doing research on glass. Debora is from Argentina. After finishing a degree in art, she decided to widen her horizons and that road brought her to Mexico where we met each other," says jewelry artisan Marco. "I studied veterinary medicine. After several successful professional activities that benefited society with practice and technical knowledge, I was attracted to art. So we both began researching the art of glas...  (less)

by kings and queens - thus the argent metal was used in the elaboration of jewelry as well as utilitarian items. Presented by Ploy Intha, this loving rendition of tradition makes for a special gift on a memorable occasion. Silver and a small amount of copper are placed in a crucible, then covered with another crucible and this assembly is placed in the forge. When ready, some ground charcoal is blended into the molten alloy to prevent solid dross from forming when that mixture is poured out into a terracotta container. The silver obtained is beaten into the desired shapes with appropriate hammers on an anvil. A mixture of oil and pitch is heated, and a coat of this mixture is applied on a wooden surface. Another coat of that mixture is applied to the bottom of the pendant, which is fixed to the wooden surface and hand-detailed with chisels. Once engraved with a superb vegetal design, it is lightly reheated to remove the pitch and placed into a boiling acid bath to rinse out the impurities. Then the pendant, rings, little spheres and cones are soldered together, and a thin string, which has been previously braided out of long strands, is attached to complete the item. It is then washed into a solution of washing powder and tamarind, let to dry in the sun and filed with a brass brush and polished. Finally the artisan applies a secret recipe of his own to give the necklace a burnished finish.  (less)

by Oscar Figueroa. He takes his inspiration from churches in Mexico, covering the pendant with flowers that recall bouquets placed on the altar and bouguets presented to the Virgin. It is worn on a gossamer necklace of black suede and silk organza. The length can be adjusted by sliding the clasp. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "I was born in the city of Taxco on February 2, 1964. I studied until secondary school in the same city. I then traveled to the state of Mexico to study high school and then in Mexico City I did a degree in business administration. Later, I studied marketing at a post-graduate level. "Growing up in a silversmith environment, especially since my city is recognized worldwide for its silver jewelry,...  (less)

of this necklace. By Maria Belen Nilson, the necklace is crafted by hand featuring oxidized accents. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "Hola! My name is Maria Belen, and I was born in Rio Cuarto, Argentina, on 25 February 1954. I grew up there, and graduated in Educational Studies. When I was 21, I left my country and moved to Mexico. "I came here on my own and with nothing. I chose to come to Mexico because I have admired this country and its culture ever since I was very young. I fell in love with Mexico the moment I arrived, and I started teaching literature in Mexico City. "After some years I moved to the state of Morelos, where I started doing handicrafts. I learned about different crafting techniques, and a...  (less)

Gomez. He blends classic styles with modern stylizations for this hand-crafted sterling silver necklace. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "Hi! I'm Erick and I specialize in filigree jewelry. I started when I was 12 years old, since my family has been dedicated to this craft for generations. I left it for a while to concentrate on my studies and then got back into it - practically everybody in my family is dedicated to jewelry making. At first we sold to other vendors, until we realized we needed to look for other alternatives. One of my cousins researched the financial aspects and when we felt confident enough, we dared following other venues, which included joining a few NGO's. Our aim was to promote and ...  (less)

of this long necklace, which can be tied to the desired length. Crafted by hand, the silver chain creates a harmonious contrast with the cool, fresh green hues of chrysocolla. .950 rating silver Artisan Info: "My full name is Renee Patricia Umbert Delgado, from Lima. My father was a pioneer in Peruvian commercial T.V., and I believe I inherited from him the ability to use manual tools. My mother has always been a homemaker. "After high school I studied photography, but the origins of my artistic inclinations are rooted in my family history, where there are painters, decorators and writers. That's were my creativity and sense of artistry comes from. "Some years ago I received a phone call from my son, ...  (less)

necklace and earrings. Transforming cultured pearls, white and rose quartz into feminine jewelry, Lilly Rahmann shares her unique design vision. The hand-crafted choker features luminous pendants, while sterling silver brings its own pristine shine to the set. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "My name is Lilly Rahmann and I was born in Bangkok. I started learning arts and crafts at the age of four. The primary school, secondary school, and college that I attended specialized in the arts and crafts. When I was young, my father owned a ruby mine, a gemstone cutting factory, and a jewelry store in a gemstone mining area of Thailand. Each weekend, he would bring home rubies and gems to be graded. He'd ask me to he...  (less)

The florid engraving is highly detailed, attesting to the meticulous nature of Thai silversmiths. At first reserved for low-ranking officials and commoners, silver's moonlight beauty soon became coveted by kings and queens - thus the argent metal was used in the elaboration of jewelry as well as utilitarian items. Presented by Ploy Intha, this loving rendition of tradition makes for a special gift on a memorable occasion. Silver and a small amount of copper are placed in a crucible, then covered with another crucible and this assembly is placed in the forge. When ready, some ground charcoal is blended into the molten alloy to prevent solid dross from forming when that mixture is poured out into a ter...  (less)

of this long necklace, which can be tied to the desired length. Crafted by hand, the silver chain creates a harmonious contrast with the warm, rich brown hues of aragonite. .950 rating silver Artisan Info: "My full name is Renee Patricia Umbert Delgado, from Lima. My father was a pioneer in Peruvian commercial T.V., and I believe I inherited from him the ability to use manual tools. My mother has always been a homemaker. "After high school I studied photography, but the origins of my artistic inclinations are rooted in my family history, where there are painters, decorators and writers. That's were my creativity and sense of artistry comes from. "Some years ago I received a phone call from my son, ask...  (less)

love. The stylized heart pendant features cutout floral motifs that contrast with the darkened, "burnt" silver backing. Valentines flourish on the reverse side of the pendant and another heart adorns the clasp. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: Ketut Widarma Putra was born in Buleleng, West Bali on October 21, 1979. He is proud of his name, for Widarma means "good man." From the time he was a child, he liked Balinese art so much that he decided to attend a handicrafts school in Batubulan. "I loved going to school because I could learn everything about silver, metals, textiles, wood carving and design," he recalls. "And everything was related to my beloved island." When he finished his studies, he worked for...  (less)

The beautiful pendant is a locket to hold a beloved photo or treasured keepsake. She works in fine Peruvian silver bathed in 21k gold. .950 rating silver Artisan Info: Giuliana Valz-Gen was born in Lima on November 9, 1958. She recalls that as a child, she loved creating her own jewelry to wear at parties, or to give as gifts to her friends. By the age of 14, Guiliana was already wearing her own creations. When Giuliana began attending university, she also signed up for courses in jewelry making, where she learned the essentials of the craft. For her this was a hobby that she kept refining and perfecting. She was still taking courses when her husband died. At that point, Guiliana quit her studies to seek a steady...  (less)

and Adrian set the pearls with strands over luminous hearts. The pendant falls from a heart and arrow toggle clasp that is surrounded with threads of fine silver. 1000 and .950 rating silver. Artisan Info: Peruvian designer Anna Lia Barandiaran and Adrian Miranda joined forces to create a space where they and other jewelry designers can meet, exchange ideas, and learn new techniques. "Our designs are inspired by women, in color, and in desire. Our jewelry is completely crafted by hand and features a fusion of ethnic elegance and Art Deco. The larger pieces fall more under the latter category, combining natural gems with Czech crystals. "We describe our work as subtle and feminine. We are dedicated...  (less)