Silver dangle earrings, "Quiet Ocean"

Dario Alejandro Vela Romero was born July 16 in the province of Callao. His beginnings in the world of jewelry came about in a casual way, although he always says that "life is a succession of casual happenings that guide us toward our purpose." When he was 15, a friend's father convinced him to help out in his jewelry workshop during school vacations.

At the beginning, Vela thought he wasn't cut out for this kind of work but, once vacations ended, he continued working there part time. Little by little, this activity became a passion. He realized how much he enjoyed working with meticulous details and eventually found a great deal of satisfaction in creating jewelry that people liked. Training courses complemented his experience in the workshop.

"Beauty can be expressed in different forms and manners," he says. This is the inspiration for his designs. And this point of view has permitted him to develop a style of his own through which he expresses his uniqueness.

"The challenge for a country like Peru is to get ahead little by little, despite the many difficult circumstances that exist. It's important that people appreciate the art of jewelry, as many don't value the effort it requires," he says. "Through Novica, people around the world can share my expressions of beauty."