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 romantic, this elegant necklace combines amethyst with luminous white pearls. "The irregular shape of baroque pearls makes this necklace appropriate for women of every age. Apart from amethyst, they bring a freshness to the design," Vivanco explains. .950 rating silver Artisan Info: "My artistic formation began when I was a baby; its origins are in my family environment. When my second daughter was born in 2002, I realized I needed to spend more time at home with her and her sister, who is four years older. I'm a lawyer, and my profession demands long hours. I'd come home from work exhausted. "That's when I began taking silversmith classes with my sister, Galia and began to learn about the process and its...  (less)

by Carmen Anocibar, in Peru. Referred to as snow quartz, this gem is regarded as one of the most powerful and protective stones. Anocibar clusters gray pearls above the heart pendant on this sterling silver necklace. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "I'm Carmen Griselda Anocibar. I was born in Argentina on February 23, 1961. Most of my life has been dedicated to art, both in teaching and in crafting ceramics and jewelry, and I was a ceramics professor at the Universidad Nacional de Misiones in Argentina. "My husband's job took us to Lima where I met a Peruvian friend who was taking jewelry classes. I went with her to the academy one day and after that, I never missed a class until I had learned all I coul...  (less)

this choker. He casts the choker of sterling silver and centers it with an argent flower with a white pearl for a heart. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "Bali has given me everything I desired and more... and I feel I should give something back in return, therefore a percentage of the sale of my jewelry is donated directly to my favorite cause (the Healthy Mother Earth Foundation), which provides a healthy start for the hope of the world... the children." "I went to India in 1988 'chasing after God' and while I was there I bought some gemstones. That was the beginning of many adventures, bringing me back to India in search of gemstones and trading my way with those throughout Southeast Asia! "By about 1993 I was...  (less)

suggests its innocence with the purity of white cubic zirconium. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "Hello, my name is Shanker and I come from a farming background. I studied till 10th grade and, as a family tradition, I was obliged to work along with my parents. During those days, my maternal uncle was working with a jeweler. I was always fascinated by the fancy jewelry he designed. Eventually, I quit farming and started my own small workshop. "I started designing and crafting sterling silver jewelry and slowly, with the help of family and friends, I was able to establish myself in the field. Initially, I had to face a lot of problems as people in my village like only gold, because it offers a return value. Silv...  (less)

in an exquisite necklace. Luminous white pearls are punctuated by finely polished orbs of crystal quartz. Silver flowers flank the clasp, which is shaped like a heart. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "The Indian style of jewelry fascinates many, including me. I am a strong believer in divinity and would gladly go wherever God wants to take me. "I was born on December 28, 1946 in Bombay. I have two brothers and a sister who are now settled in different parts of the world and we share a strong sense of family values. My childhood was very secure and happy, with wonderful memories. "I came into this profession by chance. Though I had always enjoyed, admired and loved wearing the exotic jewelry of India, it was al...  (less)

necklace of extraordinary beauty. Thought to foster mercy, love and generosity, jade reveals an astonishing array of color. White pearls are symbols of a pure heart and mind. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "My name is Matta Nandrakwang, I was born and raised in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province in Thailand next to the border with Myanmar (Burma). I grew up appreciating this naturally beautiful area, home to rich and diverse cultures as well as many ancient ethnic tribes. Since the area is rich with gems and the main activity was their trade, I began to learn and develop a passion for the various gemstones. "Ever since I was a young girl, I have been enamored with the hill tribe people's love of jewelry. I r...  (less)

spin and whirl. They bring their bold allure to lustrous river pearls in black and white. Anchoring this novel necklace by Matta, sterling silver frames a trio of the polished red gems. 0.925 rating silver Artisan Info: "My name is Matta Nandrakwang, I was born and raised in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province in Thailand next to the border with Myanmar (Burma). I grew up appreciating this naturally beautiful area, home to rich and diverse cultures as well as many ancient ethnic tribes. Since the area is rich with gems and the main activity was their trade, I began to learn and develop a passion for the various gemstones. "Ever since I was a young girl, I have been enamored with the hill tribe people's ...  (less)

a necklace of extraordinary beauty. Thought to foster mercy, love and generosity, the gem reveals an astonishing array of color. White pearls are symbols of a pure heart and mind. .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "My name is Matta Nandrakwang, I was born and raised in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province in Thailand next to the border with Myanmar (Burma). I grew up appreciating this naturally beautiful area, home to rich and diverse cultures as well as many ancient ethnic tribes. Since the area is rich with gems and the main activity was their trade, I began to learn and develop a passion for the various gemstones. "Ever since I was a young girl, I have been enamored with the hill tribe people's love of jewelr...  (less)

pearls along with sterling silver beads. White pearls symbolize purity of heart and mind. They foster wisdom and tranquility. Pearl is the designated birthstone for those born in June. .925 silver. Artisan Info: "Hi! My name is Neeru Goel and I was born on September 19, 1960. I spent most of my childhood in Kolkata, a metropolis in West Bengal. Collecting jewelry and gemstones has been my passion ever since childhood. I have been greatly inspired by my grandmother who used to look into each and every detail, from how jewelry is made to what had been used to make the jewelry. I remember when I was just a child, my grandmother used to watch nomads walking on the roads and admire them for wearing huge and fancy...  (less)

renowned for their beauty. Agnes Mills uses a classic black and white color scheme to create a necklace with modern elegance. The African beads are crafted of recycled glass in a dizzying array of shapes. Artisan Info: Born on November 10, 1951, in central Ghana, Mrs. Mills studied Home Science, now known in Ghana as Home Economics or Catering. Upon graduation, Mills became a teacher. She works on her beaded necklaces as a hobby and in times of leisure, also creating the beads when she is on holiday from the school. She is married, and her children seem to be committed to their mother's bead-making vocation and sometimes help her with it. "I hope the world will enjoy my designs. They come from my heart, and ...  (less)

shining silver, the pendant is worn on a cotton cord necklace. Sandra and Lily select cords in pink, blue and white. .950 rating silver Artisan Info: Sandra and Lily Indacochea are a mother and daughter team. Joined not only by family ties in common, they share a passion for art. They are both self-taught. It all began as a game, when Sandra's little boy (Lily's grandson) was sent to fine psychomotor therapy. They both became immersed in the manual training until they realized that it had become more than a game they shared with the little boy. They realized that if they let their imagination run wild and allow their talents an expression, they could create original works of art. Sandra and Lily also recognized...  (less)