Category: About jewelry

Omyoki handcrafted jewelry is handmade by artisans from India, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia. Discover their craftsmanship in this video.

We introduce you to some of the people who work with Omyoki. The manufacture of artisan jewelry is made by locals who have become friends. The workshops have all been visited and the working conditions checked, in order to propose ethical jewels.

Handmade jewelry Omyoki, handmade

Mahesh's workshop in Nepal

Mahesh lives in the suburbs of Kathmandu, in the family house, with his parents, his wife and his 2 children. He has been making malas and pearl bracelets for 14 years! 14 years of threading pearls, with patience, gentleness and tranquility. Mahesh is very religious, when he puts on beads he seems to be meditating. There emanates from this person an absolute calm, a peaceful force. Well known in his neighborhood, it is not uncommon to see one or two friends from the surrounding area come to chat and drink tea. Mahesh was introduced to me a few years ago by a Polish volunteer teacher in a Nepalese village for more than 7 years. A great meeting.

Govin's workshop in India

The handcrafted jewelry workshop is nestled in the heart of Rajasthan. This region of north-western India has been renowned for its jewelry know-how since the dawn of time. Rajasthan is a very colorful region of immense cultural wealth. It is not for nothing that it is one of the most touristic destinations in India. I met Govin in 2017, thanks to several business friends in Europe. Everyone advised me to go see Govin and what a meeting! Govin, Muku, Eddy, and a few craftsmen fervently work silver, crimp, brush, polish. The workshop is a real Ali Baba's cave, full of a thousand semi-precious stones. No machine, apart from something to polish! All silver jewelry is handmade, from A to Z. Forget the machines, even the simplest. It is all the more incredible to see the birth of these handmade jewels.

Fon & Lek's workshop in Thailand

Lek's workshop is located in northern Thailand, near the Burmese border. The Karen, tribes of the northern mountains are very skilled with their hands. The Karens work in fabric and silver and are renowned for their handcrafted silver jewelry. Unlike many countries, they use purer silver, which is 95-98% silver, instead of 92,5%, which is the standard. I first met Fon and Lek in Bangkok, because they go down there to shop. Believe it or not, communication was very complicated at first because the Thai people are not that English speaking! By dint of gestures and time we have come to understand each other. I have been to the north of this country a few times and the creativity, color and ingenuity there is incredible.

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The larimar, a fine stone that has such a beautiful history! This mysterious blue and green water stone comes straight from the Dominican Republic. It's the the world's only larimar deposit. It was discovered in the 1900 years by a priest but the government refused to extract it. It was only from 1975 that it was exploited by Miguel Mendez who managed to obtain the exploitation right. He gives the semi-precious stone the name of his daughter Lari, to whom he adds the word "mar", sea in Spanish. Hence the name of larimar. The Bahoruco mine has created a whole local economy and offers work for many people in the area. Work in the mine but also in many local jewelers, at the museum of Santo Domingo.

Exploitation of the Larimar

To get you in the mood, you can watch the presentation video of the larimar jewelry museum.

The larimar mine, located near Los Chupaderos, is exploited in two different ways. Part is managed by the State of Dominican Republic with mechanical means. The other part is mined by small local farmers who work with archaic means. Here is another video that shows the simplicity of the means implemented.

Interview tip

The larimar is photosensitive, storing it in the dark will prevent it from losing its color over the years.

The properties of Larimar

In lithotherapy the larimar is reputed to be a stone of extreme softness, which brings calm and balance. The stone stimulates vital centers and self healing. It stabilizes the nervous system and enhances the joy of living. Stone of well-being, it is recommended to wear the larimar close to the body. It can also be associated with other stones (rock crystal, turquoise, chalcedony ...)
Colors: Light Blue to Blue Green
Chakras: chakras of the throat and solar plexus.

Larimar jewelry

So much to see... rings in silver and larimar, entirely handmade. Jewelry with a modern and refined design, for a beautiful enhancement of the fine stone.

The tree of life is the symbol of evolution, of the common origin, but also of the union between the terrestrial and the celestial. The sign of the tree of life has been used since the beginning of history and on all five continents.

The tree of life according to Darwin

Darwin proposed a tree of life to represent the common origin of all living things. The relationship or link between birds and dinosaurs was represented using this tree. It is also possible to draw an analogy between the biological classification system and the concept of the tree of life. In this system, a given species can be traced through its roots.

The tree of life in the West

In the West the tree of life has a link with the 4 elements. The tree draws its food from the Earth but also feeds on sunlight, drinks the rainwater it receives, and grows thanks to the wind. Fire (Sun) gives it energy, Water (Rain) gives it existence and life; Air (Wind) gives it growth and movement; and the Earth gives it a base, a form. So here we have the 4 elements present in the tree (Fire-Water-Air-Earth), and its 4 structural characteristics (Background, Life, Movement, Form). These 4 categories turn out to be also the 4 divisions in humans: Head / Fire, Lungs / Air, Intestines / Water, Legs / Earth.

The tree of life in Buddhism

In Buddhism, the tree of life symbolizes the saving knowledge that delivers the being of its illusions. It is a Ficus bengalensis that grows in India, Nepal, etc., carrying small figs but inedible. It was at the foot of this tree that Siddharta Gautama knew enlightenment and became the Buddha, the Awakened, or the Awakener. He loved, indeed, to stand under this tree to teach the way to his disciples.

The tree of life in jewelry

We find the tree of life in many jewels. The symbol conveys a very strong image and brings together many concepts. It is very popular in Europe and the West. Here are some examples of contemporary jewelry. Discover more pictures of zen jewelry and trend on our Instagram: