Sunday, August 8, 2010

Handmade Peruvian Jewelry - Exotic Silver Jewelry



People from all over the world have been clamoring for handmade Peruvian jewelry for the past few years. Why? It’s because Peruvian silver jewelry is known for its craftsmanship, quality, and design. No where else on Earth can you find jewelry of similar caliber. The smart jewelry shopper will always be on the lookout for Peruvian silver. Peruvian jewelry is not only beautiful on the outside, but has a deep historical background on the inside, as well.

The first silver Peruvian jewelry was fashioned by the Pre-Incan peoples. These various tribes made designs based on the wildlife around them and their religious deities. The different styles of these peoples would merge together as the Incas incorporated the tribes. The result was simple, yet elegant designs that reflected the Inca’s values and spirituality. With the arrival of the Spanish, Incan jewelry combined with that of the Europeans. The jewelry that emerged was much more intricate and daring. The designs, styles, and techniques of the old world coexisted with those of the new. With the emergence of 20th century art, many Peruvian artisans reflected modern styles in their art. Now, the past clashed with the present. All the while these styles were changing, the dedication of Peruvian artisans didn’t. The Peruvian silversmiths of today still use the same techniques that their ancestors used thousands of years ago with the same reverence to beauty and with many of the same tools and techniques.

Besides the two thousand year old proven techniques and designs, Peruvian jewelry has unsurpassed quality. Most silver jewelry you find on the market today contains only 92.25% silver. Handmade Peruvian jewelry, on the other hand, often contains 95% silver. If you don’t trust my word for its quality, look at the market. Peru is the number one producer of silver in the world! Peruvian artisans will also often use this high quality silver with other natural gemstones, shells, or dried plants. The material used in handmade Peruvian jewelry can’t be found anywhere else.

If you want jewelry of the highest quality that will be sure to impress your eyes, then Peruvian jewelry is for you!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Handmade Peruvian Jewelry - A Tradition of Excellence

Handmade Peruvian jewelry has become one of the most popular forms of jewelry in the world due to a variety of reasons. One reason is because of the high quality of the jewelry. Although most sterling silver is 92.25% pure silver, many Peruvian artisans sell silver of 95% purity. The lack of total purity is due to the addition of nickel or copper to strengthen the soft silver.

Silver handmade jewelry from Peru has been handcrafted by families of Peruvian silversmiths for centuries. The techniques they use date back to the Incan civilization, where the artisans would produce silver jewelry for the Incan aristocracy. However, Peruvians are not constrained by their old traditions. Many Peruvian artisans infuse their old traditions with modern techniques and designs. The product is a unique design of jewelry that can’t be found anywhere else.

Peruvian artisans also use exotic and native materials that help them create some of the most intricate and stunning pieces of jewelry. For example, they use the red jungle seeds called “huayruro” as the centerpiece of many of their products. They also implement the highly prized spondylus shell that has been used in jewelry production since the time of the Incas.

From deep in the jungles of Peru, comes the exotic jewelry of the Huancayo Valley. For thousands of years, the people of Huancayo have passed down, from generation to generation, a special technique for carving Peruvian gourd. The ancient practice is still being carried out to this day and is being used in modern silver sterling settings.

Besides the aesthetic reasons for purchasing these beautiful pieces of artistic jewelry, many from outside of Peru have started buying them for separate reasons. Peruvian silver jewelry is crafted by struggling Peruvian artisans that are trying to gain economic independence in an emerging third world nation. By buying these products, socially minded consumers can help these artisans gain the independence they desire. If you decide upon buying handmade Peruvian jewelry, you’ll be walking away with some of the highest quality pieces of art on the market.