silver droplets

Add Balinese flair to your look with this gorgeous pair of dangle earrings from Made Sugi. Over two total carats of faceted amethyst dazzle from the center of the sterling silver earrings, bordered by intricate traditional bun and jawan silverwork. The crest-shaped earrings are enhanced with oxidization which creates a stunning contrast between the elegant gemstones and silver details.

An earthy melange of colors distinguishes these waterfall earrings from Thailand's Somluck Komolmith. The earrings are crafted by hand from sterling silver and adorned with green jade and colorful quartz rings.

Like droplets of water, tiny globes cascade in a torrent of light. Thailand's Angels handcrafts original sterling silver earrings with slender ball chains.

Nectar droplets of wine-toned rhodonite descend from the earlobes, featuring a design by Michael Krainer. Working with local artisans, he crafts the earrings from 18k gold plated sterling silver.

Artisan Rosario Leiva of Guatemala brings new life to recycled CDs in these beautiful and fascinating dangle earrings with sterling silver hooks. She melts the CD scrap in a mold, then artfully applies droplets of acrylic to achieve her desired colors--purple, turquoise, and yellow for this pair of earrings--and then fuses the CD material and acrylic together using a blow torch. The resulting effect is magnificent translucent color punctuated with air bubbles that create unique patterns.

About her work, the artisan says: "I love creating jewelry with materials that most people would discard. Let's all take the time to think about the endless opportunities we have to give 'waste' materials another chance."

Quetzalcoatl, the "feathered serpent" was a revered deity in Mesoamerican myth and legend. Mariana Llanes depicts him as a sterling silver dragon that take its own tail in his mouth. "When one becomes many, they awaken the dragon, and duality emerges — light and darkness, what is mine, yours and belonging to others," ths artist says. "Our differences, survival and the struggles for power.

"By biting its tail, the dragon places all its energy toward understanding who we are and why we're here. It speaks of overcoming one's own ego, of humility.

"For me, the open hands are a beautiful representation of human collaboration. They symbolize friendship, honesty, respect, solidarity and willingness.

"Black crosses flank the hands along with garnet droplets that represent the death and suffering caused by wars. This is in honor of everyone who has died because of war. And it's a prayer that their lives and their blood be seeds that germinate in green fields of conscience, learning, and respect for life and for our differences.

"The spirals speak of life's cyclical nature and of resilience. Of our capacity to learn and change our reality, converting painful experiences into strength and wisdom.

"The feather pendants are symbols of the birds that collect our prayers around the world — for peace, for justice, for equality and the rights of everyone. They carry our voices in their song and they carry our prayers for peace."

The pendant is worn on a beaded gemstone strand of amethyst, iolite, citrine, peridot, carnelian and garnet.