Etsy

Some years ago, on my birthday, my boyfriend took me out for a quiet, romantic dinner. It was an evening of candlelight and sparkling happiness. I left my seat for a few minutes to freshen up, and when I returned, there, beside the candles and wine, was a small unruly package that he had wrapped himself. As I opened up the layers, a strand of beautiful white fresh water pearls slid into my palms, each reflecting the soft light of the evening. It was strung meticulously, but had no clasp... and when I looked up questioningly, he grinned sheepishly and admitted that, for the life of him, he couldn't figure out how to attach that finicky little round thing to the silk strand. He had threaded each pearl himself, at night, while I was fast asleep. But there was more, and beneath the beautiful pearls came pouches of Swarovski crystals in colours of the peacock, and odd instruments, pliers... for shaping and crimping and wrapping... all the alchemical processes that I would discover, step by step, over the years.

I have never looked back.

As I mastered the art of wire-wrapped jewelry, I found myself traveling back in time, to the exquisite pieces that my mother and grandmother wore. I come from Sri Lanka, a land famed for its jewels, called, at one time, “Ratnadeepa”, or, the land of jewels. The women of my family understand the language of precious metal and stone, our skin is familiar with the weight of diamonds, pearls, rubies and sapphires. I wished to recapture the delicacy and elegance of these times in my jewelery.

I found myself drawn to the ancient rock paintings at Sigiriya, to the floating apsaras who adorn their bodies in nothing more than lotus petals and ornate jewels. I was held by the royal lions of Polonnaruwa whose stone manes ripple like water, or cirrus clouds in a monsoon sunset.

My jewelry was born out of a gift of love. Each piece that I craft for you reflects hours of painstaking labour, pricked thumbs, knotted wires... and so much joy. I hope that my pieces live with you through the years. Enjoy!

Aparna Halpé