This week I thought it would be fun to share some of my favourite pieces of jewellery that I've collected whilst travelling overseas. I bought most of these things before I started making jewellery myself, and they definitely inspired me, as well as being perfect keepsakes from my trips.
The first pieces come from Cuba, the first country I went to on a Central American trip way back in 2013. I bought a lot of pieces from different markets, and these pieces I've chosen are quite reflective of the kind of things saw there, mainly using natural materials like wood, and coral, as well as colourful enamelling.
Cuban jewellery
I absolutely love this massive ring. I am not sure exactly what the beautiful, warm peach stone is, but I love the colour and markings. I'm also a big fan of a massive statement ring! This one is simple enough to wear with everything.
The metal is 'alpaca silver' , it's called different things in different countries (including nickel silver and german silver) and is commonly used in central American countries to make jewellery. It is actually not made of silver at all, but a mix of copper, nickel and zinc alloys, in varying percentages. It doesn't have any intrinsic value, but is a really great replacement to sterling silver as it polishes up to a beautiful shine, and is far less expensive. Whilst it can tarnish, I've actually found a lot of the pieces stay brighter than my silver jewellery!
If you are buying jewellery from a market, the chances are you are never going to know exactly what it's made of, and people will often tell you what you want to hear. But for me that's totally fine, I buy these things for the beautiful designs and workmanship, and the value is emotional not a monetary investment. Also it's not necessarily a wise idea to wear valuable jewellery when you are travelling!
The bracelet is a combination of mother of pearl and some kind of enamelling, which I again saw in a lot of Cuban jewellery. The shape of it is as beautiful and eye-catching to me now as when I first bought it. I wore both these pieces for weeks while I was travelling in Cuba, along with earrings I bought also with polished stone in.
Pearl earrings from Guatemala
The second selection of jewellery comes from Guatemala. There are many fantastic handcraft items you can buy from the makers at markets, and often watch them at work. These pairs of earrings both came from the highland town of Xela (Quetzaltenango), where I volunteered in a women's weaving cooperative for a couple of weeks. They both came from a man who used to make jewellery in the central square, and I absolutely loved his work, the intricate wire designs combined with different colours and shapes of stones. I think I came back home with at least a dozen pairs! I love the elegant design of the natural pearl ones, and the beautiful blue heart shaped stone of the others. I'm not sure what stone it is, but possibly blue jade, as jade is frequently used in Guatemala.
Jade has been used in jewellery in Guatemala since pre-hispanic times and carved into jewellery, figurines and other works of art, owned by priests ad royalty. The jade found in Guatemala is of the rarer 'Jadeite' variety, and comes in a wide variety of colours including colourless, white, all shades of green, yellow-green, yellowish brown, brown, red, orange, violet (mauve), blue (rare), gray, black and purple.
Blue heart earrings from Guatemala
The most expensive piece I bought was this ring which came from a shop on the Island of Flores in northern Guatemala. I believe this is made of silver, and the stone is Jade. It's a really classic teardrop shape that you can wear facing up or down, and the design will always look good no matter what time passes.
Green Jadeite ring from Guatemala
The last two pieces are rings that came from all the way round the other side of the world in Sumatra. Sumatra is Indonesia's largest island, and the only place other than Borneo where you can see Orang-utans, which is why I ended up there! The men were wearing huge amounts of jewellery while I was there, especially multiple really large gemstone rings. I bought both these rings from market stalls in different places. The shape of them is very much that which was commonly being worn.
Idocrase ring from Sumatra
I love the intricate carving on the sides of the first ring. The metal again will be some mix of alloys, but it has always had a slightly golden tone which I love. The stone may be idocrase or possibly chalcedony. I just love the subtle grey and peachy tones, and the cloudy inclusions throughout. I loved wearing this ring, for me that stone is full of dreams.
Agate ring from Sumatra
The other ring has a more modern, masculine vibe, with a really beautiful stone, which I think may be agate with a beautiful array of red and range tones. This ring definitely means business! It may not be perfectly made, but it perfectly captures that moment in time, in that place, where I will probably never be again.
Gemstones found in Indonesia include, pearls, fossil coral, fossil wood, agate, amber, chalcedony, jasper, idocrase, obsidian and quartz amongst others. Indonesia again has a long history of gemstone use dating back to around 3500BC.
Since I've been making jewellery I actually wear less of it, as rings especially don't really lend themselves to working with your hands, and I started wearing things I have made myself. But I keep all these pieces and treasure them, looking through them now bringing back all the memories of those countries I visited. I think I will started wearing them again, and let them inspire me to create some new designs whilst dreaming of those faraway places.
I hope you've enjoyed this article, that has turned into a love letter to those creators across the globe who make beautiful things with their hands, and the connections we make and take home when we are lucky enough to visit these places.
Love,
Tori x