For three decades, my work in global health carried me across the world—from the bustling streets of Phnom Penh to the storied Citadel of Erbil, Iraq, to the vibrant markets of Mumbai, the coastal beauty of Sri Lanka. While my mission was always to serve communities in need, I found myself captivated by something unexpected: the jewelry.

In every place I worked, I was drawn to the local markets where artisans displayed their craft. I watched goldsmiths in Cambodia hammer intricate patterns into metal at the Central Market. I admired the way Indian jewelers set locally mined stones with techniques passed down through generations. I marveled at the ancient metalworking traditions that still thrived in Iraqi bazaars.

These weren't just beautiful objects—they were stories. Stories of place, of tradition, of the hands that shaped them.