WHAT YOU SEE AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT A PIECE OF JEWELRY.

Most of the time when we think of jewelry, the first thing that comes to mind is: those shiny earrings or choker delicately displayed on the counter of that distinguished boutique or in that Instagram photo. But behind that piece of jewelry lies a great deal of work, and today I'm going to tell you about everything that goes into making a piece of jewelry: What we don't know but can see.

In the world of jewelry, talking about the tangible is like seeing the tip of the iceberg, meaning the finished piece in a campaign photograph or in a boutique display case. The tangible is the initial attraction when selecting the ideal piece of jewelry, yet it is not the essential aspect; there are other factors to consider that go beyond aesthetics. We will refer to these as the intangible factors of a piece of jewelry, what we cannot see but is of utmost importance for the piece to captivate you. We could say it is the DNA of the jewelry, its reason for being.

While we understand what we mean when we refer to the tangible aspect of a piece of jewelry, let's delve a little deeper into its intangible side. To do this, I'll give you a general overview of its background. This is why we will explain four points that we always take into account when crafting our jewelry pieces.

• Collection Conceptualization 

For Dinur®, pieces begin as part of a small or extensive collection. 

"When I feel it's time to create a new collection, I always use something that inspires me as a reference point. Many times, I find that refuge in art, architecture, nature, and so on, adding a series of sentimental journeys, because inspiration presents itself in so many ways that it can even come from a feeling, the rhythm of a song, a music video, etc. Who knows!"

Conceptualization is a form of expression combined with research based on a study of trends in both society and the fashion world, to see how we can materialize what we have in mind as designers. 

• Jewelry Piece Design

Reaching this point, we immediately move on to where design and innovation converge. Here, the designer truly begins to play with silver, techniques, processes, and finishes. At Dinur®, we strive for all our pieces to be functional jewelry, which is why some pieces in the collections are designed to have different uses in a single piece. It's the beauty of the process. 

It's truly something when you have a well-established and justified concept that allows you to explore it in a thousand and one ways. 

• Jewelry Making Process 

The manufacturing process of a piece influences both its aesthetics and its lifespan, a factor that will encourage us to make our purchase. This should always be the most important factor in the equation. 

The first thing we consider when we begin the production of our jewelry pieces is the raw material from which they are made. Whether it's sterling silver or gold, it's important to us that it's certified by the bank or the supplier. After this first point, the alloy is the next most important step, as this is where the magic truly comes from. 

Let me briefly explain what it consists of: alloying is basically melting silver with other metals to give them a bit of hardness. This melting involves heating the metals to such a degree that they mix to obtain the hardness that produces .925 sterling silver or .950 sterling silver. Remember that the higher the number, the purer the silver in the jewelry. The alloy is the most important thing, as it is what will give you the certainty that what you are acquiring is authentic.

Understanding a bit better how metal needs to be prepared to proceed with the creation of a piece of jewelry, let's summarize the steps to follow once we have our silver ingot ready in its respective alloy.

In jewelry, there are many ways to manufacture pieces. We start with the artisanal, semi-industrial, and industrial processes. We will briefly talk about the artisanal process, which practically consists of manufacturing the jewelry from scratch, starting with alloying the metal, followed by preparing the metal for the design to be made, which can be a sheet or wire; each option has its own different process. Once the metal is stretched and at the desired thickness, we proceed to the construction of the piece's design, bringing to life what was previously designed on paper. At this point, all the strength and delicacy of the artisans come into play, because despite making "small" objects, goldsmithing requires a certain degree of strength to handle the metal and delicacy to detail the pieces perfectly. Once the piece is assembled and whitened, we continue with pre-polishing and finish with a more abrasive polishing, culminating with a deep cleaning which helps us eliminate any chemical residues and unwanted aspects on the pieces so that they can be packaged and sent to customers or points of sale. On the other hand, the industrial process for manufacturing jewelry is when artisans no longer intervene in the pieces, giving way to large machines that facilitate this work to make jewelry in less time and in greater volume. Finally, the semi-industrial process is a combination of both, in a nutshell. You never stop using your hands, but their intervention is less.

All this I mentioned is an express overview of the process of a piece; each step takes time and requires certain special materials and techniques.

• Sentimental value of each design 

Finally, let's talk about the meaning we give to these delicate pieces, and the truth is that even if they mean something to us, the true meaning is given by whoever decides to acquire the piece of jewelry and wear it, complementing their own style. 

It's not just something that enhances your beauty; it's also that accessory that cherishes the best moments. It's that delicate impulse we all feel when we see something we fall in love with. Have you ever felt that need for the perfectly polished, mirror-like piece with sparkles that reflect elegance and captivate you at first sight? Those same sparkles that prompt you to speak to the person at the counter to show you the piece, and upon closer inspection, you decide to try it on, and seeing it so perfect and feeling it so custom-fit, you have no choice but to simply buy it because you are completely obsessed? That's how we want you to feel when choosing one of our pieces. 

Now that I've explained all this, do you understand why I tell you that the intangible goes beyond aesthetics?