Hi, I’m Sienna. Welcome to my little corner of the jewelry world.
Before I ever held a gemstone in my hand, I held a camera. I spent years traveling from place to place as a documentary-style photographer, capturing landscapes, markets, and everyday life across different cultures. Everything changed during a photography assignment in the Andean mountains, where I encountered artisans hand-shaping gemstones under the open sky. Their pieces were raw, imperfect, and breathtakingly full of story. I was captivated.
That encounter sparked a journey that took me far beyond photography. I began learning directly from the artists who mine, cut, and shape gemstones into wearable art. Over the years, I have spent time in Sri Lankan sapphire markets, Brazilian amethyst mines, Moroccan silver workshops, and small mountain villages in Mexico where jewelry-making traditions are passed down like family heirlooms.
Through these experiences, I learned how to recognize the difference between a stone that has been gently shaped by human hands and one mass-produced with no soul. I learned how to identify natural inclusions, how to spot heat treatments, how to recognize regional craft signatures, and most importantly, how jewelry connects people across continents and generations.
To me, jewelry is never just decoration. It carries culture, memory, and identity. A gemstone is formed over millions of years, and its journey continues with us. Every ring, necklace, and bracelet holds a story worth telling.
I created this blog to share what I have learned. Here, I’ll show you how to choose gemstones wisely, how to shop ethically while traveling, how to appreciate the stories behind different cultural jewelry traditions, and how to support artisans whose craftsmanship deserves recognition and respect.
Whether you are a jewelry lover, a traveler, or simply curious, I hope this space inspires you to see jewelry not just as something to wear, but something to understand, honor, and cherish.
Thank you for being here.
Let’s explore the world of gemstones together.