AMETHYST SET Alpaca Silver "MAJESTY DREAM" ~ Peru

STUNNING AMETHYST NECKLACE  & EARRINGS

Original Alpaca Silver Art Jewellery Collection

About the materials

• ALPACA SILVER has become very popular as a metal in handcrafted jewellery, especially fashion jewellery from Peru in South America.  It is an alloy of 3 metals (cooper, nickel and zinc).  It is called "German silver" but it does not contain any silver.  The reason it is sought after by artists and wearers is because it is flexible, durable, hypoallergenic, has a "silver" like lustre and will not tarnish easily (this can vary with the quality of the Alpaca silver).  Leo always uses high quality Alpaca silver that has a gorgeous and durable shine (you may need to clean your Alpaca silver jewellery with a cleaning cloth for silver to renew their shine and beauty).

• AMETHYST is a variety of Quartz.  The colour purple is traditionally "the colour of royalty" and Amethyst has been used since the dawn of history to adorn the monarchs and rulers.  The Amethyst used here has a gorgeous deep purple colour.  I read that "if it were not for its widespread availability (Amethyst) would be very expensive".

• Hours of work.  Each of Leo's necklaces starts with the selection of the stones according to size and color.  At the same time he's crafting the necklace on his mind and knows already what design will go with the stones he is hand picking.  New designs take longer as Leo has to play with the wire and other components, he has a few trials and errors until he gets the design right and then VOILA!!!.  There it is a new design for the enjoyment of women who love to wear creative fashion jewellery.

 Leo the artist

Leo is the shining star in the fashion jewellery world in Cusco, Peru. His original designs are unique and refreshing in such a competitive market. 

He handcrafts all his jewellery in his small but always crowded shop.  We have a great business relationship and friendship with both Leo and his brother Willy, who loves to cook us something special everytime we are in Cusco.  When I visit his shop, he is always working like a little bee and his walls are always full of his new designs, which are as always stunning. I am usually overwhelmed by all the new models to try out and select my models from and quite often spend hours at a time deciding on them.  

I am so happy to have  Leo as a supplier as not only is he known as the best fashion jewellery designer in Cusco, he works with only the highest grade  Alpaca silver and handpicked gemstones.  Leo's Alpaca silver jewellery always shines beautifully and will keep shining for a long time, depending how often you wear your jewellery, you will just need to polish the jewellery with a silver cloth from time to time to revive that lovely shine.

Leo and myself at his shop in Cusco (Jan 2009)

Leo, the animal lover

Everytime I visit his shop I feel at home, we talk not only about business but about our common interest, dogs. Leo and his brother Willy share their home with 5 dogs rescued from the street.  It is sad to see the hundreds of street dogs in Cusco, he tells me how he and Willy help them and we talk of our future plans to help these abandoned dogs in Cusco.  I always carry some ham sandwiches or dog biscuits for them but I would like to do something more. 

Leo is often visited by street dogs who know that good Leo will always have a little something for them, always a bowl of fresh water and will also allow them to have a quiet sleep on the shop's wooden floor.  

This year we decided to join forces and we are doing something for the dogs.  We now supply Leo with bags of dry dog food which now means he is able to give the dogs food.  He said most of the dogs love the food and  we feel happy that we are doing something for the animals in need in our own small way. 

Read more about Leo, his art, other artists and more in my my blog.

You will receive exact item shown in photos