The Catacaos filigree work used in the design and creation of this pendant necklace is one of the oldest jewelry techniques in the world and an important park of Peruvian cultural heritage. Here, Giuliana Valz-Gen presents a carefully crafted orchid blossom of gold-plated sterling silver with its petals reaching to greet the morning sun.
"In a way, my work deals with the richness of nature. My motivation comes from a desire to complement female beauty with my designs, which are infused with Peruvian artistry."
Update (June, 2019) "I am Giuliana Valz Gen Rivera. If my friends and close family had to describe me, I'm more than...Update (June, 2019)
"I am Giuliana Valz Gen Rivera. If my friends and close family had to describe me, I'm more than sure they'd say that I am a staunch and fair woman, a woman impatient with what I hope to achieve both personally and professionally.
"Since I was a child, I've been very curious. I always noticed jewelry for its brightness and elegance. When I reached adolescence, I loved making special gifts and I wanted to make them myself. I knew that I had the ability to develop more artistic skills. But everything comes when it has to come, and it happens in a very organic and natural way. That is how I was initially trained in business administration. That was the foundation that helped me to become a businesswoman and to be able to perform at what I most wanted. Today I feel that there is nothing like doing something that you really love.
"There came a time in my life in which I told myself that, despite the difficult times, it was time to work on my own. The first thing that came to mind at that time was jewelry. It was always my favorite hobby. I thought about what I liked the most, what I was most passionate about, what I enjoyed doing without having to think about it as a job.
"So like everything at the beginning, it was a challenge to start working on my own. I decided to train a lot in workshops and take courses where research about techniques was fundamental. I wanted to know more about the world of jewelry, not only locally but globally, and learn from it and create designs that achieved differentiation. During these 14 years, I'm proud to have consolidated a great team of collaborators and friends with whom we share this art. We are strategic partners and we value our art, our knowledge, our transparency in communication, and our loyalty to the work we do as a team.
"In my art I want to preserve the ancestral techniques of filigree and colonial silverwork. The filigree technique is one of the oldest jewelry techniques. Today we know that the Egyptians, Etruscans and Greeks were the first to develop it. In Peru, filigree has been developed since the arrival of the Spaniards, and is part of the country's cultural heritage.
"My inspiration comes from life itself, from day to day, from everything I find and research. I love creation, design, drawing, and combining — they are the outcome of my training."
Original Artisan Story
"What really counts is innovation. My designs speak of tradition yet they are modern and feature the harmony between metal, pearls and gemstones. In a way, my work deals with the richness of nature. My motivation comes from a desire to complement female beauty with my designs, which are infused with Peruvian artistry.
"I was born in Lima on November 9, 1958. As a child, I loved creating my own jewelry to wear at parties, or give to friends as gifts. By the age of 14, I was already wearing my own creations.
"In college, I signed up for elective courses in jewelry making, where I learned the essentials of the craft. For me, this was a hobby I kept refining and perfecting. I was still taking courses when my husband passed away. At that point, I quit school to seek a steady job to support my young son. That has been the greatest challenge of my life.
"I decided to set up my own workshop where I could develop my jewelry designs. And it's a way to rescue ancestral techniques in gold and silver, reproducing colonial designs and fine filigree. I've researched the handcrafted jewelry styles developed in Peru over the centuries and have experimented with many great materials that I incorporate into my designs. Of all of those, I prefer Andean opal with its exquisite colors and extraordinary veins.
"Designing is easy. I just think of what I'd like to wear."
Giuliana has been recognized for participation in Expo Peru Central America, Costa Rica and Panama in 2016 as well as in the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show that same year. She also exhibited her designs at the III International Congress of Jewelry and Goldsmithing in Lima in 2016.
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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UNICEF Market offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
UNICEF Market's artisan-direct prices are made possible through our partnership with NOVICA, a leading fair trade organization that works directly with artisans in remote regions around the world in many of the same communities where UNICEF has missions. NOVICA’s ten global Artisan Empowerment Hubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America provide interest-free microcredit loans to artisans and help them bring their handmade creations directly to you.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
UNICEF Market supports children by helping generate funds for UNICEF's programs dedicated to improving children's lives worldwide. These initiatives provide essential resources such as safe water, nutrition, education, health care, and emergency relief to children in need. Learn more here: UNICEF USA.
WIN # 3 Artisans Thrive!
UNICEF Market empowers artisans in emerging nations by offering a fair trade platform to sell their handcrafted goods, expanding their market reach and increasing their income. This support helps transform the lives of tens of thousands of artisans and their family members across the globe.
