Pura Vida, Journey to the heart of life
What if a jewelry collection could be born from the rustle of leaves, the coil of a snake, or the tiny ballet of ants?
In 2022, I decided to go to Costa Rica, one of the world's greatest biodiversity hotspots. I lived there for several weeks in a natural reserve, surrounded by biologists, wild animals and a forest that seemed to breathe.
From this immersion was born Pura Vida, a collection inspired by the beauty of living things. This logbook recounts the adventure, from the tropical canopy to my workshop workbench.
Costa Rica, a biodiversity sanctuary
Why this country? Because it is home to almost 6% of the world's biodiversity, nestled between the North and South American plates, between oceans and volcanoes. Costa Rica is a land of intense life and raw, fragile beauty. What's more, it's a pioneering country in terms of conservation: over 25% of its territory is protected, and it invests massively in the conservation of its ecosystems, making nature a true national priority.
There, I was welcomed by Marteen and Hanneke, two passionate biologists who have been looking after this reserve for several years and regularly welcome volunteers and biology students. With them, I discovered another way of life: simple, focused on observation, patience and listening to living things. We slept in small huts overlooking the forest, protected only by mosquito nets that let in the sounds of the jungle. All around us, the forest.
Living with the forest
The days started very early. We were a dozen volunteers, divided into small groups, each responsible for a specific area of the reserve: primary forest, 30-year-old forest, reforestation zone, agricultural zone and garden. Every morning, we set out to track, observe and record the species we came across: mammals, birds, amphibians, insects, signs of passage, songs and behaviour.
These daily surveys enable us to assess the state of biodiversity, to identify imbalances or progress in a restored ecosystem. It's meticulous, humble and often silent work, but infinitely rewarding.
At the same time, we took part in camp life: building a pond for the frogs, a bridge between two riverbanks, collecting garbage from the neighbouring village, laying the foundations for a vegetable garden, maintaining the paths, etc. Every task had a meaning. Every task had meaning. And above all, each day was an opportunity for deep immersion in a world where we are but a guest.
In the primeval forest, every step is an encounter. The trees are immense, creepers undulate like snakes, moss clings to every surface. Thousands of ants cut through the leaves, spiders and snakes lie in wait, a toucan pierces the foliage. Far from artificiality, this is an autonomous, teeming world, where each species depends on another.
I think one of the things that impressed me most about the place was the noise: the forest is incredibly noisy! Animal cries, rustling leaves, flapping wings, croaking frogs, howling monkeys - every living thing contributes to a unique symphony that symbolizes living together.
Creations that pay tribute to this unique biodiversity
Little by little, I began to write and draw. To transcribe what I felt: the beauty, the tension, the precision of each living being. It wasn't yet a collection, but rather a drawn diary of everything that had touched me on this expedition.
Thus was born the Pura Vida collection: a series of unique pieces inspired by these closely observed fragments of nature.
A jewel pays tribute to the ballet of leaf-cutter ants and their strange mushroom culture, proof of agriculture within these fascinating insects.
The Ophidia ring reproduces the sensual, deceptive curves of a stunning snake, with the appearance of golden eyelashes and intricate scales.
The motif Spira motif reproduces the spiral winding of a fern that has yet to unfurl.
And the Trama Viva ring, in the shape of a perfect circle, unites several animal species, equal to each other, all interdependent.
Each piece is a story. A trace. An attempt to capture the essence of a living world.
A gentle, precious call to reconnect with Nature. To feel, to contemplate, to protect.
Pura Vida.
