may necklaces

This necklace designed by Lupita Betancourt features a pendant of two sterling silver circles, one solid and one with geometric cutwork. Three beads of natural Mexican amber dangle from the second circle. The pendant hangs from a collar made from a sleek band of sterling silver.

Natural amber is a fossilized resin, and no two pieces are alike in shape and color. Bits of moss and plant life may be seen within droplets of true amber.

The alluring beauty of amber is captured in this beautiful necklace from Mahavir in India. A glowing piece of amber centers a sterling silver pendant with a butterfly motif. Evoking a captivating sunlit garden, the pendant flutters on a cable chain.

Due to the natural, organic origin of amber, please expect variations in color. Amber is a solidified resin which may contain fragments of fossilized plants, a testimony to its authenticity.

Mexico's Guillermo Arregui designs a luminous choker of arresting beauty. It is cast of sterling silver and centered by a glowing amber gem. Crowned with an iridescent pearl and peridot, the pendant glistens with tumbaga, a gold and copper alloy developed since pre-Hispanic times.

.925 Sterling silver

When used in jewelry, amber beads can include a stunning arrangement of tones and hues. Natural amber ranges from yellow to deep orange. It may sometimes even have a green cast to it, as well as opaque swirls within. Because amber is the preserved resin of prehistoric trees that grew millions of years ago, it sometimes has tiny inclusions of plants and insects -- making it highly prized.

Hanzi are characters used in Chinese writing. As early as the sixth century A.D., many of these characters began to be simplified and adopted into Japanese writing, where they're known as kanji, a term that is more widely used in the West. Artisans in Yiwu, China, create these pendants by using sterling silver and the lost-wax casting method. Each character emulates the sweeping brushstrokes of traditional calligraphy. Choose based on birth month, favorite color, or simply the symbol that resonates with you most.

January: Garnet/Beauty, February: Amethyst/Generosity, March: Blue Topaz/Affection, April: White Quartz/Love, May: Green Quartz/Sweetness, June: White Pearl/Longevity, July: Carnelian/Perfection, August: Peridot/Purity, September: Iolite/Protection, October: Pink Tourmaline/Happiness, November: Citrine/Artistry, December: Turquoise/Imagination.

A master artisan of handmade dolls, Iliana Hernandez creates this wood decorative doll to celebrate her Mayan heritage. Perfect for brightening the living room, this doll catches the eye with its handmade yellow huipil, dark multicolor striped skirt, purple necklace and vibrant headdress. The brown-stained wooden base features a felt lining to protect soft surfaces.