Activities
Craftsmanship
Goldsmith
Hélène Cancela Alain

Corsican Handmade Jewelry - Coral and Semi-Precious Stones - Corbara

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Hélène Cancela Alain

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Published on 28/07/2023 - Updated 5 months

Goldsmith Hélène Cancela Alain - Craftsmanship - Corsica

Workshop - Hélène Cancela Alain Jewelry - Corbara, Corsica

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Women's bracelet - Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corsica

Earrings - Hélène Cancela Alain Jewelry - Corbara, Corsica

Hélène Cancela Alain

At the crossroads between Calvi and Ile Rousse, Hélène Cancela, an artisan goldsmith and jewellery designer for 29 years, creates handcrafted jewellery in coral or semi-precious stones set in silver, gold-plated or bronze in her workshop in Corbara near Pigna. Necklaces, torques, bracelets, pendants, adjustable rings and earrings are available in the shop and online.

Jewellery in bronze, silver, gold-plated and semi-precious stones

Jewellery corail corse - Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corse

Rings corses - Jewellery Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corse

Bracelet femme - Jewellery Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corse

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Earrings - Jewellery Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corse

Jewellery corses artisanaux - Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corse

Rings - Jewellery Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corse

Workshop création de bijoux corses BdeH - Hélène Cancela

Helene Cancela on the Corse Matin newspaper

Article Corse Matin - Hélène Cancela - Jewellery Corbara

A designer of semi-precious stone jewellery since 1995, Hélène Cancela's workshop is a small treasure trove located in the Balagne region on the coast of the commune of Corbara, 600 metres from Bodri beach, and listed on the Route des Sens. Red/pink signposts can be seen 2km after leaving Ile-Rousse in the direction of Calvi, just below the T30.

At the end of a small tarmac road about a hundred metres long, there is a wooded car park with wind chimes on the right. On the ground floor of the family home, you'll find a magical world of reflections and light, with semi-precious stones and gold, bronze and silver ornaments. Atelier de bijoux BdeH exhibits and sells its jewellery all year round and online.

20192024Clip Strada di l'Artigiani

Adjustable finger ring

Bague - Jewellery Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corse

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Semi-precious stone ring - Corsican jewellery designer

Rings corses en rhodochrosite et quartz rose

You'll find rings with one or more stones, wedding rings, single rings, signet rings and cuff rings to fit any finger.

Corsican bracelets for women, men and children

Corsican woman bracelet - Hélène Cancela Alain - Corbara, Corsica

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For a family visit, discover bracelets in different shapes and styles: cuff bracelets, band or half-band bracelets, coral bracelets. You can also create a personalised bracelet by engraving a first name or date.

Necklaces - Pendants - Torque - Earrings

Women's necklaces are etched to match bracelets, earrings and angel chimes. You'll also find chokers and torques for evening wear. Pendants are sold as they are, with stones set in silver or bronze, or already installed on a necklace. You'll also find pendants in the shape of a Corsican.

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Pendants

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Silver pendant - Black semi-precious stone

Earrings

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Eye of Saint Lucia

Discover the symbolism of this jewellery through the history of Saint Lucia. Very common in Corsica and around the Mediterranean, the eye of Saint Lucia adorns earrings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces. It is genuine, and comes from shells picked up on the island's beaches.

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Semi-precious stones

Pink quartz
Composed of silicon oxide, manganese and titanium, this pale pink stone evokes tenderness and serenity. A stone that also embodies femininity and emotionality. It is found particularly in Brazil and Madagascar.

Rhodochrosite
The little sister of rose quartz, rhodocrhosite is also a pink stone with a darker hue, composed of carbonate and manganese, found from Mexico to the southern United States.
Aventurine
It is a green stone composed of fuchsite or muscovite (Moscow stone), found in Brazil, China and India.
Carnelian
Carnelian is a fairly solid coral-red stone from Latin America and India.

Rhodochrosite
The little sister of rose quartz, rhodocrhosite is also a pink stone with a darker hue, composed of carbonate and manganese, found from Mexico to the southern United States.

Aventurine
It is a green stone composed of fuchsite or muscovite (Moscow stone), found in Brazil, China and India.

Carnelian
Carnelian is a fairly solid coral-red stone from Latin America and India.

Amethyst
Purple in colour, amethyst is composed of silicon oxide, iron and manganese. It is found in Europe, Latin America, Russia and Madagascar. In lithotherapy, it is said to help combat drunkenness and intoxication, and to promote sleep. It embodies humility and stimulates creativity. The workshop also has genuine amethyst geodes, again with a certificate of authenticity.

Pyrite
with its golden appearance, also known as fire stones or fool's gold, composed of iron disulphide, it is found in Western Europe (France, Italy, Spain) as well as in Slovakia and Peru.

Pyrite
with its golden appearance, also known as fire stones or fool's gold, composed of iron disulphide, it is found in Western Europe (France, Italy, Spain) as well as in Slovakia and Peru.

The jewellery is crafted from semi-precious stones in a range of solid and lattice colours, such as rhodonite, haematite and moss agate. All the stones come with a certificate of authenticity.

Stones and coral from Corsica

The stones used are mainly Corsican: fluorite, rock crystal, pyrite, rose quartz, serpentine and amethyst. Bracelets, pendants and necklaces in Corsican coral are also on display in limited editions. Hélène treats the stones without bruising them, they are not set, the polishing tries to continue the natural course of the action repeated by the sea.

From fine art to jewellery

After graduating from the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Hélène went on to complete a Master's degree and a Capes in Spanish, a LEA and a Bachelor's degree in English and translation. Having always been involved in the artistic world, Hélène's passion took over at university when she started making handmade jewellery to earn pocket money. She left everything behind to return to Corsica, to Ile-Rousse, the home of her grandparents, with whom she spent her holidays. It's here that she currently runs her jewellery workshop. Hélène Cancela is a member of the association Strada di l'Artigiani - La route des Artisans de Balagne.

The workshop is also the goldsmith's workplace, where numerous soldering tools, wax mouldings, cutting machines, grinding wheels and chemical products for etching using nitric acid come together. Other chemical processes such as electrolysis may also be used, but these are carried out by an intermediary who has the equipment.

Jewellery at all prices

The jewellery is sold directly from the workshop, at markets, or ordered by mail order or online below. Prices are designed to be affordable, with most jewellery available for under €100 and to suit all budgets. From €10 for children's bracelets to €25 for the eye of Saint Lucia, up to €75 for bracelets with etchings and €110 for elaborate cuff bracelets. Earrings and rings generally cost between €40 and €60, with a few exceptions.

Rental New semi-detached villa

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Hélène has a holiday or year-round rental, a mini-villa in Corbara near Île-Rousse. You'll have an outdoor terrace overlooking the sea and a flower-filled garden planted with trees on a 5000 m² private property. There is a large, shaded car park with access to the rental car.

With a capacity of 2 to 3 people for 45 m², the villa has a double bedroom, a living room, a new kitchen, a terrace with a view of the sea, a double bed (BZ) for 2 people (140cm), an open-plan kitchen (washing machine, dishwasher, 4-ring ceramic hob, fridge-freezer, microwave, toaster), a bathroom with shower cubicle and WC. Kitchen linen provided, hairdryer, iron, barbecue, TNT, TV, WIFI, you'll want for nothing.

Pets are welcome. The location is calm and peaceful, with no traffic noise, in the heart of the Balagne region and 350 metres from the sea. Only 800 metres separate you from two beautiful sandy beaches, one of which has lifeguard surveillance. The Leclerc hypermarket is just 500 m from the Ile Rousse exit, and there's a local chemist's. You can also enjoy an open-air cinema.

Hélène will point you in the right direction in the Balinese region: seasonal fruit and vegetables, island produce, beauty salon, spa, massages, golf, sports centre with swimming pool, hiking trails, restaurants, discos, from Ile-Rousse to Calvi.