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Caterina Butera

"I was born in Lima on August 25, 1972. My history with jewelry began practically at birth. As a child, I couldn't wear earrings because my ears weren't pierced (my father didn't want this done) and I'd ask my mother to look everywhere for clip-on earrings, very difficult to find in those days, as there were almost no designs for children. Each time she'd find a pair for me, I'd take care of them like gold, even more than I looked after my dolls.

"When I was a little girl, I liked to create all kinds of bracelets and necklaces in all colors. Whenever we'd go to visit someone, the only thing I cared about was that person's jewelry chest. I always asked them to show me the pieces they had and I could look at them for hours.

"When I was 12, for my birthday, I was able to get my ears pierced. The whole family gave me earrings and from that day on, I don't think I ever stopped wearing them. Even when I had surgery three years ago, I asked them to leave my earrings in place.

"In school, I'd do abstract style drawings that always ended up as jewelry. Then I entered the university and majored in communications, as I thought it was the most creative school within the University of Lima.

"A few years ago I began designing jewelry for myself. In fact, designing is the part I like best. And even though I never studied jewelry, I have continued to design it. This is what I am really passionate about doing. My pieces are mostly fashioned of sterling silver and the natural gemstones mined in my country."