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.