Tiberio Gonzales

Tiberio Gonzales silver and gemstone jewelry

Born in Ayacucho in 1949, Tiberio Gonzales moved to Lima as a teenager to find work. "By chance, I was offered 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 then decided to learn the art of jewelry. That's when I discovered the true value and beauty of stones. Each stone encloses an infinite number of colors and tones. You can see a natural landscape in each stone, when you closely observe it.

"I decided to venture out on my own and set up a workshop. I did everything myself, from creating the designs to crafting each final piece, and really enjoyed it.

“My inspiration comes from the stones themselves. When I hold a gemstone in my hands, I see what that particular stone is best suited for and how to best develop it. I combine stones with Peruvian silver; this is how each of my creations is born. I try to use these natural elements in different and unusual ways, with the authenticity of Peru inherent in my style.

"When I met my wife, Victoria, she was working for a company that manufactured women's clothing. She knits beautifully! Sometime later she decided to join me in crafting jewelry. Today she has designed many of the models we develop in our workshop. Our three children – Frank, Ali and Liz – also inherited our love for this art and today they're part of our team and help in many ways. From the time Ali was a boy, he'd watch me work for hours. Now he crafts designs of his own and helps the family with sales."

Handmade: A Global Artisan Marketplace Lima, Peru

"I decided to venture out on my own and set up a workshop. I did everything myself, from creating the designs to crafting each final piece, and really enjoyed it.

“My inspiration comes from the stones themselves. When I hold a gemstone in my hands, I see what that particular stone is best suited for and how to best develop it. I combine stones with Peruvian silver; this is how each of my creations is born. I try to use these natural elements in different and unusual ways, with the authenticity of Peru inherent in my style.

"When I met my wife, Victoria, she was working for a company that manufactured women's clothing. She knits beautifully! Sometime later she decided to join me in crafting jewelry. Today she has designed many of the models we develop in our workshop. Our three children – Frank, Ali and Liz – also inherited our love for this art and today they're part of our team and help in many ways. From the time Ali was a boy, he'd watch me work for hours. Now he crafts designs of his own and helps the family with sales."

Andes Artisan Empowerment Hub

Explore the Andes region, once home to the Inca, Wari, Chavin and other ancient empires. Today, the influences of these ancient civilizations can be found in the artistic handicraft traditions that artisans use to create the vast array of jewelry, home furnishings, pottery, textiles, paintings and folk art that preserve the diverse, complex heritage of this colorful Latin land.

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Maker BadgeEnabling Education

Tiberio's wife and three grown children work in the family workshop. He helps to pay for the education of his grandchildren.

Maker BadgeMicrocredit Financing

Tiberio Gonzales has received a $2150 microcredit loan with 0% interest. Proceeds were used to buy gemstones and sterling silver for his jewelry business.

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