Garnet Dangle Earrings with Sterling Rings from Thailand, "Ringed Gems"

“Hi! I’m Somsiri Juntamin; my nickname is ‘Ple.’ I was born in 1969 in Sa Kaeo province (the eastern part of Thailand).

“I went to study in Bangkok when I was 13. I finished my Hotel and Tourism Management studies and worked in Bangkok until I was 36 years old; then I came back to live in Sa Kaeo.

“I have enjoyed dressing up since childhood, and have always been interested in beauty and jewelry, so I’ve been trying to make it by myself. The first product I sold was a pair of earrings. My province is located near Chanthaburi (a center of gemstone mining), so I had an idea to select some beautiful gemstones to make earrings. It was nice, but not a very fine piece.

“I tried to improve my design and was picky when choosing natural gemstones. Fortunately, I have a friend in Chiang Mai who helps me with silver materials.

“Apart from making jewelry, I also make some snacks to sell in the neighborhood.

“My life goals are to earn a lot of money so I can travel abroad to find inspiration, new concepts, and designs; and to have a workshop to build jobs for other people in my neighborhood.

“I hope everyone will love my jewelry. Thank you.”