Graphite brooch with labradorite from the Nepal collection

• 80% silver-plated alpaca, 10% labradorite, 10% silver-plated brass
• Brooch length approx. 2.5 cm
• Width approx. 5 cm
• Labradorite diameter approx. 0.5 cm
• Approximate weight approx. 8 g

Repousure between heaven and earth

The heart of the Nepal collection is repoussé, a traditional metal decorating technique that has been perfected for centuries by Newari craftsmen from the Kathmandu Valley. It starts with a thin sheet of metal. Himalayan masters work from the underside, striking the contoured points with a hammer. Each strike shifts the sheet by a fraction of a millimeter, until a convex relief gradually emerges on the other side. The piece is then turned over and chiseled from the front: lines are deepened, contours are accentuated, and the finest details are carefully extracted. Creating a single ornament requires hundreds, sometimes thousands, of strikes and many hours of focused work. In the Nepal collection, this centuries-old technique is given a contemporary form by ORSKA jewelry.

Repusé brooch with a labradorite pendant

The brooch is made of silver-plated and oxidized alpaca. The graphite shade of the metal highlights the convex ornament that fills its asymmetrical shape with gently rounded edges. Among the striking embellishments, vines and tiny leaves symbolize growth, perseverance, and the courage to follow one's own path. The metal component, from a workshop at the foot of the Himalayas, was brought to the ORSKA studio, where jewelers complemented the brooch with a small pendant featuring a shimmering labradorite.

Labradorite - a stone of perspective

The labradorite used in this brooch from the Nepal collection doesn't immediately reveal its character – at first glance, it's a calm, gray stone that only comes to life when in motion, revealing reflections of blue, green, and gold. This phenomenon, known as labradorization, means the stone never looks exactly the same, and its colors vary depending on the angle from which it is viewed. In the Nepal collection, labradorite symbolizes a change of perspective. A brooch with labradorite can be a symbolic gift for someone on the verge of an important decision or beginning a new chapter in life. It can be a reminder that sometimes looking at problems and worries from a different perspective allows for new solutions.