Tikanchay's Blog

Back With New Peruvian Jewelry

Elaine — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:24:16 +0000

We’re back from Peru again, with new ideas and new Peruvian jewelry designs. We’re still photographing new products and updating our site, and the overall new look will be ready within a couple of weeks. While in Peru, I was reminded of the importance of Huayruro seeds in Peruvian culture. Taxi drivers wear Huayruro bracelets as they drive through the crowded city of Lima, for protection. Just like the rosaries that hang from the rearview mirrors, Huayruro seeds are seen as a powerful way to ward off negative energy. In the more rural areas, many Peruvians keep their Huayruros in containers within their homes, and sometimes carry a few in their pockets for good luck. This tradition dates back for centuries, and is a reminder of the importance of history and culture in modern day Peru.

A Dragonfly Pendant is a Unique Jewelry Gift

Elaine — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:26:48 +0000

The dragonfly is a symbol of many things to many different people. The most common ones are renewal and positive energy. Like butterflies, dragonflies have been featured in many jewelry designs lately. This dragonfly pendant features mother of pearl, or nacar as they call it here in Peru. The shell is polished to perfection, giving it a pure, milky look. Surrounded with .950 sterling silver, the shell’s true beauty shines. It makes a unique jewelry gift for any woman who enjoys dragonflies and the beauty of nature. We also have this pendant in purple and red spondylus shell, and chrysocolla, or Peruvian turquoise. Each stone or shell has its own allure. We’ll be adding photos and product pages for the other pendants soon.

Hand-Woven Straw Earrings

Elaine — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:01:10 +0000

One of the many interesting art forms in Peru is straw weaving. The women in the villages create hand-woven treasures like baskets, but they also make tiny woven earrings and bracelets. It is amazing that they can weave this delicate natural material so tightly that they can create design different handcrafted jewelry designs. They also use different colored straw to make the designs interesting. When finished off with sterling silver caps and placed on french wires, the organic art to the left becomes a fascinating pair of handcrafted earrings. People who appreciate a green lifestyle especially love our straw jewelry collection, making these straw earrings a great jewelry gift idea.

Artisan Jewelry in the Markets

Elaine — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:59:42 +0000

We’re here in Peru right now, browsing through the artisan markets. The array of handcrafted goods is amazing, from embroidered pillowcases, purses, and even ballet flats to carved gourds of all shapes and sizes. But of course, our favorite is the artisan jewelry featuring native stones and shells, butterfly wings, Huayruro seeds, and gourd. Many of the styles in the market are very dramatic, with large stones, intricate designs and thick silver chains. They’re beautiful to look at, but we often look at how they can be adapted for the modern American style of our customers. We then work with the artisans to create our vision. We’ll continue shopping today and hopefully we’ll have new styles to show for it during the holiday season.

The Power of Obsidian

Elaine — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:01:08 +0000

Obsidian is a volcanic glass that forms when hot lava meets cool water in the mountains of Peru. This exotic material is known to have metaphysical properties that make it a protective stone, warding off negativity and bringing clarity to those who wear it. When it is polished to a smooth finish as it is in these artisan earrings, it is a mesmerizing accent for jewelry. At Tikanchay, we’re adding more designs like these Round Obsidian Earrings to our Peruvian jewelry collection. With .950 sterling silver and stones like obsidian, our designs stand out. They also make great jewelry gifts, since we have something for every woman’s style. And if you don’t know what to pick, we also offer gift certificates. For more information on the special stones featured in our collection, visit our website.

Creating a New Look for Artisan Jewelry Online

Elaine — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:25:13 +0000

We are busy creating a new look for our website, which will showcase our artisan jewelry in a different way. With more photographs and new navigation options, customers will enjoy a great online shopping experience. We’re also adding lots of new handcrafted earrings, like these Silver Artisan Braided Earrings, along with more silver necklaces and bracelets. We always strive to find new ways to offer the highest level of customer service to show our appreciation for our loyal customers. The new site should be finished on August 1st, so be sure to check back to see our progress.

Silver Seed Bracelet

Elaine — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:14:06 +0000

Simple seeds and sterling silver make a great style combination. You may not have seen seeds used in jewelry before, but in Peru it is common to use local seeds to make interesting accessories. The Huayruro seeds in this Seed Bracelet are not just interesting to look at. They have also been considered good luck charms in Peru for centuries. The Amazonian seeds are traditionally given to newborn babies in the form of tiny bracelets, to ward off negative energy and attract good fortune. Anyone can wear them for good luck, however, and this makes Huayruro jewelry a great gift idea. We’re always adding new Huayruro styles to our collection, so check back often to see what’s available.

A Modern Silver and Black Bracelet

Elaine — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:38:05 +0000

This Silver Black Bracelet is a must for women who love contemporary designs. Clean lines and geometric shapes often make up a contemporary jewelry collection, and this bracelet will fit in perfectly. The sleek black cord and hammered silver oval make it a simple yet classy piece you can wear everyday. And of course, the quality is superior, with .950 sterling silver and a thick, soft cord. The sterling silver clasp means it will stay in place, and the other sterling silver accents add a bit more shine. We test our handcrafted jewelry ourselves before offering it on our site, and we guarantee the quality of each piece.

Another Hammered Silver Design

Elaine — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 14:20:14 +0000

These hammered silver earrings are one of our newest additions. The silver has an almost white, brilliant shine and the hammering makes them even more eye catching. Like every Tikanchay design, these earrings are handcrafted by a master silversmith. The classic rhombus shape is more elegant in hammered silver, which is done by hand, and then placed on a delicate french wire. We’re proud to provide high quality silver artisan jewelry like these hammered silver earrings for our customers while supporting artisans in Peru.

Shining Silver for Summer

Elaine — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:10:44 +0000

This new design is a great gift idea for women who love statement pieces. The flower is a substantial piece of sterling silver, and the hammered design gives it an elegant look. The soft black cord complements the shine of the silver, and makes it a piece that can be dressed up or down depending on your outfit. The black and silver collection at Tikanchay is growing along with the rest of our selection – you can view the new designs by visiting our homepage, and stay tuned for more updates about our newest Peruvian jewelry designs!