From Earth to Elegance: The Story Behind Our Handmade Ceramic Earrings & The Crescent Collection Launch
Jewelry tells a story and at Los Colores de la Tierra, that story begins in the heart of Guatemala, with clay from the earth, shaped by hand, and transformed into something unforgettable.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to our world, this article gives you a behind-the-scenes look at our process, values, and the exciting launch of our newest collection: The Crescent Earrings.
🌍 Where It All Begins: Handmade Ceramic Beads from Natural Clay
Unlike mass-produced jewelry, every pair of earrings we offer starts with raw clay—sourced locally in Guatemala and worked entirely by hand by our artisan team.
Below you can find Santi getting the raw clay ready to start the shaping process.
We don’t buy pre-made beads. We create our own, forming each one using techniques rooted in indigenous tradition from Latin America. These aren’t just beads. They’re miniature sculptures fired at over 2000°F in our kilns, then dyed using carefully developed colors inspired by Guatemalan landscapes and textiles.
Below you can see raw clay, already hand-shaped into our signature beads and to the right you can see them finished in all the colors of the rainbow. We cannot go to deep into the making process itself as this is a well-kept family-recipe/secret developed by Don Jaime during many years of trial and error.
What we can say is that the whole process from shaping to the actual beading is deeply rooted in indigenous tradition and is a fully handmade process. No machines involved, just pure manual labor of love.
We make different sizes of our signature cylinder-shaped beads as you can see below in the size chart.
🎨 Hand-Dyed Colors, Unique as You
Every bead in our earrings is not only shaped by hand but also hand-dyed using a palette we develop in-house, inspired by the earth tones, textiles, and natural light of Guatemala.
We don’t use industrial dyes or mass-made glazes. Instead, we create small-batch, water-based colors that allow the natural texture of the clay to shine through - if you know you know! This gives each bead a slightly different finish, making no two pairs exactly alike.
Why it matters:
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Color with character: Hand-dyeing means natural variations in tone, creating depth and warmth that machine-finished beads can’t replicate.
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Earth-inspired palette: From deep obsidian to soft terracotta, our color choices reflect volcanoes, river clay, handwoven huipiles, and all the colors of the earth (which is also why we are Los Colores de la Tierra - The Colors of the Earth).
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Sustainable approach: We use water-based pigments, no harsh chemicals, and only dye what we need—reducing waste and preserving the integrity of each bead.
✨ The Magic of Beaded Earrings: Why They're More Than Accessories
Ceramic earrings have a reputation for being heavy—but ours break the mold. Thanks to our proprietary process, the result is bold, expressive earrings that are incredibly lightweight and wearable.
What sets our earrings apart:
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Ultra-lightweight (many under 6g per earring)
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Hypoallergenic hooks made from aluminum
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Fully handmade, no plastics
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Unique to us: the ceramic beads are exclusive to our studio*
*We wholesale our beads and jewelry, so in case you do stumble upon these beads and designs outside of our sales channels
🌙 Introducing: The Crescent Collection
Inspired by the fluid curves of the moon, our newest collection celebrates softness, movement, and inner strength.
Highlights of The Crescent Earrings:
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Signature crescent silhouette – Framed for elegance and balance
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Earth-made ceramic beads – Hand-dyed and assembled bead by bead
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Colorways inspired by nature - the Moon, the Sun, Fire, and Earth
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Featherweight feel – Each earring weighs less than 7g
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Hypoallergenic comfort – Nickel-free and suitable for sensitive ears
✨ Style & Wearability
Whether you're stepping into the sun or heading out after dark, The Crescent earrings are your perfect match.
They pair beautifully with:
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Crisp button-down shirts or minimalist tops
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Flowy dresses, scarves, and natural fabrics
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Statement rings or layered bangles
👐 Our Mission: Empowering Women Through Craft
Behind every pair of earrings is a woman earning a fair wage and preserving cultural heritage. We proudly employ over 35 women artisans across Guatemala, many of whom have been with us for two decades.
🛒 How to Shop The Crescent
Each pair is handmade in small batches. The first drop of The Crescent Collection is available now in our shop.
What you get:
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Ethically made, from bead to hook
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Ships in zero-waste and protective packaging
- Includes plastic stoppers
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Limited edition colors that rotate seasonally
👉 Shop The Crescent Collection with circles
👉 Shop The Crescent Collection with stars
💌 Stay Connected
Want to see how we make them? Get early access to launches, artisan stories, and styling tips.
Final Thought:
You don’t just wear earrings; you wear energy, tradition, and story. The Crescent Collection captures that spirit in every curve and color. We can’t wait to see how you make them your own.