Cultured Pearl and Silver U-Shaped Cocktail Ring from Peru, "Glowing Semicircle"

"My name is Daniela de Sainz and I'm a Peruvian-Costa Rican jeweler. I was born in 1989 and I consider myself to be a very enthusiastic, organized and friendly person.

"After many years of just taking life as it comes, I decided to be more present and enjoy every moment that life gives me. I decided to follow my dreams. I learned the basics of jewelry-making in Costa Rica and then came to Lima to advance my knowledge.

"My first experiences in silver came when I was studying fine arts in university. My project 'Carao' was formed as an artistic and creative experiment. After earning a bachelor's degree in Costa Rica, I decided to go to Lima to learn their traditional, handcrafted silver jewelry techniques and experience a different form of learning. It was an incredible and unforgettable experience.

"Silver work is fascinating. A jeweler is able to transform a cold, raw metal into something full of life and movement. The artist's possibilities are limited only by his or her imagination. The craft connects us to our past and our roots.

"It wasn't easy at in the beginning. I learned how to visualize objects in three dimensions. It was challenging because my strength is drawing on a flat plane. I worked very hard to do what I do, and one of the biggest challenges was to set up the workshop while I studied, and worked. I eventually had to give up my house in Costa Rica to continue with my jewelry project.

"Managing this workshop has been complicated and difficult. Fortunately, I have Antonio and Marisol helping me.

"At the moment, I'm challenged to design pieces that reflect my aesthetic, but that interest shoppers. My jewelry reveals a certain weight and technique, and is crafted of Peruvian silver.

"My collections are eclectic. They acknowledge my experiences and also my life's baggage. When designing, I focus on the versatility of each of each piece so I can create jewelry that reflects modern trends while celebrating our roots and traditions. At the same time, I am aware of adapting designs to the user's personal style.

"I seek to rescue Peru's traditional silver-crafting techniques. I also strive to improve the quality of life of the artisans who collaborate with me. We believe that working as a community is the key to creating and we consider each person in our workshop to be an important member of our team.

"I'm glad to have the opportunity to show our jewelry outside of Peru and make the world aware of our culture, art and beauty. I'm very happy and excited to be a part of Novica."