Our Artisans

The son of a farmer, Om learnt stone cutting when young. He first specialized in carving crystal Gods for the temples, but now runs a small workshop in Sanganer, just outside Jaipur. He has a wonderful sensitivity to stones and has worked with us for over twenty years.

"Cutting each gem, following its individual, organic shape and giving the merest hint of enhancement with the subtlest facets, he elicits a gentle sparkle from each. As the years have passed, we have experienced many of life’s adventures together. He has had two children, one a jewellery design student, the other, a training accountant." - Pippa Small

Om now has a team who has learnt his skills, shares his respect and understanding for these organic jewels and together, they continue to do a wonderful job.

Like many of the most renowned goldsmiths in Myanmar, Tin Win comes from Ramree Island, Rakhine State. He grew up immersed in the goldsmith life, with a thin line between the workshop and the playground. It was the wish of his parents that he became a goldsmith, and he moved to Yangon in 1996 to study under the master U Kyaw Than.

He brings a deep philosophy and creativity to his work best expressed in his own words, “The most important thing of handmade jewellery is how you use your mind. You need to be creative, think about the form, structure, beauty and use of one piece. You need to think and make. Brain and hands”.

With over 20 years of experience, Ko Tin Win is now a master goldsmith working at the Turquoise Mountain workshop. He has helped create iconic pieces designed in collaboration with Pippa.

An Aymara Indian from Bolivia, Javier is the son of a gold miner who began working in the mines of Tipuwani himself. He later moved on to goldsmithing and now has a tiny workshop in Miraflores near the coca market. From this little space, he makes beautiful creations for the indigenous Chola ladies of La Paz, who invest heavily in the precious metal.

He has worked with Pippa since 2009, creating smooth, warm and worn pebbles, all made in 18kt Artisanal Gold and strung on rainbow shades of alpaca wool. 

Wilmar Marquinez, 50 years old. Born in Tumaco, and raised in Barbacoas, the ancestral capital of gold panning and Afro jewellery. Willmar’s artistic creative mind and highly skilled technique developed over 30 years, allow him to develop the most unique filigree shapes and patterns. Wilmar dominates all the local jewellery techniques, but he mostly works in filigree which is also his favourite technique. His dream is to become an independent jeweller and save money to invest in his own home. "Keep treasuring these ancestral jewels so that jewellers like me can continue dedicating our lives to this art" is his message to Pippa’s customers.

For our Colombian collection, he made the peacock necklace, using skilled filigree work to fill the tail and wings of this intricate pendant. He also incorporated this spectacular bird into a ring and earring design. The Peacock symbolizes beauty and love and is inspired by a traditional local ancient design.

Henry Paz, 45 years old, works in Tumaco with his wife and makes beautiful, skilled, traditional pieces. His first teacher at the age of 15 years was his mother and later he learned to weave chains, filigree and casting from Maestro Leonel Valencia. He also knows gem setting and has been a jeweller for more than 30 years now. 

Henry worked on a filigree leaf necklace for our Colombian collection, inspired by the beautiful tropical nature surrounding him.