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Giuliana Valz-Gen

"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."