“Being unique and one-of-a-kind not only means that the pieces you own come from real leaves, seeds or driftwood; it means that as you use the pieces and develop a relationship with them, new colors and patinas start to emerge making the piece uniquely yours—part of your history and your life.” So says Colombian-based jeweler Clara Saldarriaga of the nature-done-better pieces she creates by dipping local flora and fauna into electrolytic copper that’s then plated with 24k gold or sterling silver, effectively extending the life cycle of a plant or flower from a single season to the wearer’s lifetime—and beyond.

“I work with ancestral techniques that allow me to fix and frame the impermanent aspects of nature thanks to the alchemistic nature of the metals,” explains Saldarriaga of her creative process—and her technically complicated, propreitary technique—which seeks to freeze time in a most beautiful way. In fact, Saldarriaga's collection was born when she watched a leaf fall from a tree onto her young daughter's arm and wanted to capture the moment for posterity, something she now accomplishes with every piece she creates.

Take these rose and orchid earrings, which are simultaneously delicate and substantial, bringing a touch of femininity to whatever you wear. Roses, of course, are an age-old symbol of love and passion, while orchids represent beauty and luxury. All of which are abundant in both the making of these earrings and the exquisite, one-of-a-kind results. The collection’s better known wearers include Cameron Diaz, Donna Karan and Lauren Bush.