Black Jade and Rose Quartz Earrings from Guatemala, "Black Mayan Earth"

My name is Estuardo Jimenez and my hometown is near Antigua, Guatemala. I was born into a very close-knit and hardworking family. My parents have always been role models for me and my sisters. I'm a jeweler and I've been interested in this art because I have memories of it as far back as I can remember.

There's always been jewelry work in my house. I've been lucky to see my father working wehn I was growing up. I learned to appreciate and value it since I was young because I'd help out in my family's workshop. Although I admit, sometimes I would only goof off and joke around. I've been asked a lot from whom I learned and it's odd that I can't name anyone in particular, although I'm clearly my dad's number one fan.

Since I was young I liked to work with my uncles and other artisans in the workshop, watching the way they handled jade and silver until they finished a piece. As a child, I was curious to learn and do as the others, ‘working' on my own pieces. Maybe my jewelry wasn't the prettiest, but my parents motivated me and applauded my efforts.

When I was a teenager, I started to design and work on my own pieces of jewelry after coming home from school. Little by little, I started experimenting and becoming a perfectionist. That's how I earned my parents' trust and they gave me more responsibilities in the workshop.

We began working with you in 2010 as the Jimenez Family. Then one day we decided — as a family— that I should start to sell my own designs. Now, I work on my own jewelry, designing and crafting alone. I also help and support my parents in the workshop like I've always done.

This new journey where I present my designs to the world alone as Estuardo and not as a family is an important undertaking for me because my work has to speak for me about where I'm from, my skills and my roots.

I dream about making my and my parents' workshops grow, to take this family legacy to the next level so that my family is known for what they have achieved. I want us to keep supporting each other to improve our lives and the lives of our community by teaching more people so they have a job and income for their families.