gemstones

Designer Eva Souto says, "The challenge is to create new filigree designs without leaving behind our cultural significance and tradition. My work includes a dose of nostalgia." This sterling silver necklace with a agate globe indeed blends old and new - traditional filigree work with a modern design.

Mexico's Eva Souto presents this striking pendant necklace of her own design. Suspended from a rolo chain, an abstract interpretation of a nautilus is hand wrought using traditional filigree techniques. The pendant is anchored by a single polished agate bead, which provides weight and balance.

Crafted of precious sterling silver, a bird flies in beautiful liberty. Mexican artisan Rosa Rojo creates this pendant necklace, accentuated by a combination of finishes. Beads of faceted pink agate and hematite dangle.

Using traditional filigree techniques, Mexico's Eva Souto works in sterling silver to craft this high-polish pendant necklace, which features the branches of a tree intertwined with the heart. The pendant hangs from an equally delicate figaro chain and features a faceted green agate "apple" bead above the heart.

Handcrafted of sterling silver with a green titanium plating, vine leaves form the pendant of this necklace from Mexico. Diana Solis designs the necklace, which is accentuated by sterling silver and a single agate bead. This accessory circles the neck with sterling silver cable chain.

An ancient Maya legend tells how the gods gave a specific mission to each being they created. But they realized none had been chosen to carry thoughts and desires from one place to another," says Rosa Padillas of Rosa Roja. "So they carved a small piece of jade into a a slender arrowhead, and it became a beautiful hummingbird with iridescent feathers — the x ts'unu'um. Its mission was to carry good thoughts to all human beings, even those who had died.

"Today, if a hummingbird appears in front of you, it is delivering a message of love from someone who is thinking of you. And if we wear the image of a hummingbird, we carry good thoughts and desires to others.

"The hummingbird legend says that we can fly to the six cardinal points of the universe, therefore the hummingbird is the ideal link to transmit thoughts of love, of respect, tolerance and peace to all creatures on the planet."

The talented Mexican artisan reinterprets the legend as a necklace of dramatic beauty. She creates a hummingbird pendant in the pre-Hispanic style, and adds an agate geode representing the hummingbird's nest. It poses on a strand of gray cultured pearls.

Representing the transition between life and death, a stunning skull is crafted from sterling silver and given a combination of finishes. Mexican artisan Rosa Rojo designs this pendant necklace, featuring beads of purple agate and amethyst that dangle.