the story
The "zunzuncito," or bee hummingbird, a native species of Cuba, is the smallest bird in the world!
I've created this small pendant in solid silver or gold intending to match the bird's actual weight, which is only 1.6 to 1.9 grams. By holding it in your fingers, you can experience how light this tiny yet mighty creature truly is.
Hummingbirds evoke freedom and adaptability. Despite their tiny size, they symbolize strength due to the constant movement of their wings, which trace the shape of infinity in the air, keeping them suspended. In some cultures, like the Mayan, they are considered carriers of wishes, dreams, and messengers of souls.
- - - - -
'Sibli,' meaning 'to whistle' in Esperanto and evoking the word 'sibling' in English, is a collection I created while pregnant with my second child, Mateo, during the most challenging days of the COVID lockdown. I found inspiration in the birds I watched and listened to from my window. These graceful and adventurous creatures, celebrated in many cultures, symbolize resilience, joy, love, wisdom, and strength.
Through a series of whimsical thaumatropes and charms, I aimed to capture these values and aspirations. I hope that by wearing them and keeping them close, they will accompany and inspire you.
how it's made
I carefully hand-cut and engraved this little bird, I applied a touch of dark patina to highlight the details (the gold version has no patina).
The silver version weighs approximately 1.9 grams, while the solid 14k gold version weighs 1.6 grams—just like a real bee hummingbird* :)
*Chain weight not included.
You can visit my blog to see pictures of how these pieces were made: https://gemagenta.blogspot.com/2024/11/sibli-collection.html
dimensions
Hummingbird Width: ≈.5" (1.4cm)
Hummingbird Height: ≈.7" (1.8cm)
Chain length: ≈18" (45cm)
If you prefer a different chain length, please message me to discuss.
For the 14k solid gold version, I use a more delicate cable chain with a thickness of 0.9mm, while the silver chain shown in the picture is 1.3mm thick.
materials
Solid Sterling Silver (925) or 14k Sold Gold (585)
made to order
Every piece of jewelry is made especially for you. Please allow me 1 - 2 weeks for processing your order (or visit my READY TO SHIP section to see what I currently have in stock!).
more info
Know more about the background of this collection at my blog:
https://gemagenta.blogspot.com/2024/11/sibli-collection.html