Born in Ayacucho in 1949, Tiberio Gonzales began observing the handicrafts of his hometown at the age of 18 and found them fascinating. But he moved to Lima to find work. "By chance, they offered me a job cutting gemstones and, thanks to my teacher, I learned the craft," he recalls. "I love the gems of Peru with all their beautiful colors. I worked with that teacher for five years and decided to learn the jeweler's art. That's when I discovered the true value and beauty of stones – each one encloses an infinity of colors and tonalities. You can see their natural landscape when you closely observe the stones.

"I decided to venture ...

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